Canada’s ethnic newspapers and magazines are just scraping by financially and their owners want more federal support.

A survey of 22 publishers and  editors for the Canadian Heritage Department  finds that   ethnic publications are shoestring operations, relying on volunteer labour and often on the edge of  bankruptcy.

As well, free online information poses a challenge as the traditional role of carrying  news from home countries is undercut  for these Canadian publications.

Publishers say Ottawa  should do more to support them, through grants and more advertising.

The Canadian Press obtained the internal study under the Access to Information Act.

The president of an  ethnic press group, Thomas Saras, says the federal  government  should change its grants program – to give less to mainstream media and more to Canada’s diverse linguistic publications.