Your Voice, Your Community: Why Local Radio Needs Your Support Now

SHERBROOKE, April 6, 2026 – Local media across Canada is facing a quiet crisis. Over the last decade, our country has lost more than 600 local news outlets. While national broadcasters receive significant federal investment, the independent, community-driven stations that serve as the heartbeat of your neighborhood are often left behind.

At CJMQ 88.9, we believe that local news is best supported by investing directly in local media. That is why we are highlighting the Community Radio Initiative (CRI)—a proposed solution to strengthen the more than 255 community, Indigenous, and campus stations that Canadians rely on every day.

What is the Community Radio Initiative?

The CRI is a proposal requesting $30 million in annual federal funding to support the “unfunded pillar” of Canadian broadcasting. To put that in perspective, this is only a fraction of the funding provided to the national broadcaster, yet it would have a transformative impact on local stations from coast to coast.

The initiative focuses on three key goals:

• Stable Operational Funding: Allocating $24 million specifically for human resources to ensure stations can pay staff a living wage and invest in skills development.

• Sectoral Data Collection: Providing $1.5 million for audience measurement tools, allowing small stations to prove their impact to advertisers and become more self-sufficient

• Special Project Funding: Ensuring $3.27 million remains available for critical training, programming, and community-specific projects.

Why Community Radio Matters

Community radio is about much more than just music. For many, it is a lifeline.

• Emergency Response: In times of crisis, like forest fires or power outages, local stations provide real-time updates on evacuation orders and where to find fresh water.

• A Stage for New Talent: Community radio is the primary training ground for future broadcasters and the first place many emerging Canadian artists get their music heard.

• Connecting Neighbors: We cover the local sports, school board meetings, and municipal affairs that larger outlets often overlook.

• Cultural Diversity: Canadian community stations broadcast in approximately 55 different languages, including 15 Indigenous languages, ensuring every neighbor has a voice.

How You Can Help

Our license requires us to be a not-for-profit organization, meaning every dollar invested in a station like ours is reinvested directly back into your community.

A small investment of approximately $95,000 per station would ensure we stay operational, functional, and ready to share your stories.

Visit www.myCRI.ca to learn more about what is at stake and how you can send a message of support to your Member of Parliament. It takes less than a minute to help ensure that local voices continue to be heard.