Manitoba magazine publishers demand fair blue box treatment

Since 2007, the Manitoba Magazine Publishers Association (MMPA) has been on record as opposing the draft proposal for an 80% blue box levy for magazines. (See earlier post for details.) This week, it reminded Stewardship Manitoba, the government agency considering the new levy, of four key points in the position paper it submitted:

• Magazines which use eco-certified paper which is 25% or more post-consumer recycled content should be either exempt or given credit against any fees;
• Magazines with fewer than 100,000 copies a year or which have charitable or registered not-for-profit status should be exempt;
• No levy should be imposed on Manitoba titles until it can be demonstrated that out-of-province and foreign publishers will be requred to pay the same levies;
• Magazines should be allowed to pay a portion of any levy in contra advertising rather than cash, perhaps promoting recycling awareness.

Stewardship Manitoba is expected to publish its recommendations on June 22.