The Federal Government is extending a program that funds 400 local reporting jobs across Canada. Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge says the Federal Government  will spend $58.8 million to continue the Local Journalism Initiative program up till 2027. Started in 2019 the program, which provides funding for news media organizations for hiring local reporters. The funding is administered by a not-for-profit organizations to protect the independence of the press. News Media Canada is one of seven non-profits that administer the program. The government says  journalists provide news coverage in underserved communities including Indigenous,  minority and LGBTQ communities.