Who Owns National Post?

The National Post does not publish a standalone sustainability report. As a newspaper, its primary ethical considerations relate to journalistic integrity, editorial independence, and the environmental impact of print production. Postmedia does not hold B Corp certification, organic certification, or any of the consumer goods sustainability certifications. Those frameworks do not apply to a newspaper.

On editorial ethics, the National Post follows Postmedia's editorial code of conduct, which requires fact-checking, source verification, and separation of news and opinion content. The paper publishes corrections when errors are identified. Its opinion pages are clearly labeled as commentary. The conservative editorial stance of the opinion section is distinct from its news reporting, though critics have argued the line is not always clear.

The environmental footprint of print newspapers is significant. Newsprint production requires timber, water, and energy. Postmedia has reduced its print footprint by consolidating printing operations, reducing print frequency at some titles, and shifting readers to digital platforms. The company exited flyer distribution in 2026, which reduced its physical distribution operations. These changes were driven by cost considerations, not environmental goals, but they have reduced the company's physical footprint.

Postmedia's growing dependence on government-linked revenue raises an ethical question that is unique to Canadian media. The company receives Bill C-18 revenue from Google (mandated by legislation), federal journalism tax credits, and other government programs. At the same time, the National Post's opinion pages frequently editorialize against government spending and intervention. Critics have noted this tension. Postmedia has not addressed it publicly in a systematic way.

The National Post and its journalists have won National Newspaper Awards, Canada's premier journalism prize. The paper has received recognition for investigative reporting, business journalism, and editorial commentary. Postmedia newspapers collectively won multiple National Newspaper Awards in 2024 and 2025, though specific National Post wins are not always broken out separately in Postmedia's corporate communications.

The Financial Post section has been recognized for its coverage of Canadian business and economics. Financial Post journalists have won Canadian Association of Journalists awards and have been finalists for the Michener Award, one of Canada's highest journalism honors.

The National Post's digital content has been recognized by the Canadian Online Publishing Awards. The paper's opinion columnists, including Andrew Coyne and Chris Selley, are frequently cited in Canadian political analysis and have been recognized by the National Newspaper Awards for commentary.

Specific award counts are difficult to verify independently because Postmedia does not publish a comprehensive awards list and many Canadian journalism awards are given to individual journalists rather than to publications. The awards listed above are based on publicly available records from the National Newspaper Awards and Canadian Association of Journalists.

Foreign Ownership Controversy: The National Post is ultimately controlled by Chatham Asset Management, a U.S. hedge fund that holds approximately 63% of Postmedia's shares. Canadian media policy restricts foreign ownership of broadcasters but has weaker restrictions on newspaper ownership. Critics including the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting and various media academics have argued that foreign financial control of Canada's largest newspaper chain undermines editorial independence. Postmedia maintains that editorial decisions are made independently by Canadian journalists. No regulatory action has been taken. The current status is that the ownership structure remains unchanged.

Conservative Editorial Bias Allegations: The National Post has been accused of conservative bias by media critics, academic researchers, and rival publications. A 2023 study by the Public Policy Forum noted that Postmedia's opinion pages consistently favor conservative economic positions. The paper's coverage of climate policy, Indigenous rights, and federal-provincial relations has drawn particular criticism. The National Post has not formally responded to these critiques. Its editors maintain that the opinion section represents a range of conservative and libertarian views, and that news reporting is separate from editorial stance. The controversy is ongoing.

Government Subsidy Tension: Postmedia receives significant revenue from government-linked sources, including Bill C-18 payments from Google ($10.4 million in Q2 FY2026), federal journalism tax credits, and other programs. The National Post's opinion pages have editorialized against government subsidies and intervention in the media sector. Critics including The Hub have called this a structural contradiction. Postmedia CEO Andrew MacLeod has defended the company's acceptance of Bill C-18 revenue as legally mandated compensation from platforms, not a subsidy. The debate continues as of 2026.

Layoffs and Editorial Capacity: Postmedia has conducted multiple rounds of layoffs since 2010. In 2023, approximately 11% of editorial staff were cut. In May 2026, Postmedia eliminated 50 full-time and 200 part-time positions by exiting flyer distribution. While the flyer cuts were not editorial positions, they reduced the company's overall workforce. The Canadian Unions of Public Employees (CUPE) and Unifor have criticized the layoffs as undermining journalism quality. Postmedia has stated the cuts are necessary for financial sustainability. The current status is that editorial staffing remains reduced compared to historical levels.

Conrad Black Criminal Conviction: National Post founder Conrad Black was convicted in 2007 of fraud and obstruction of justice in a U.S. federal court related to his management of Hollinger International. He served 42 months in prison and was pardoned by President Donald Trump in 2019. The conviction related to Hollinger's corporate governance, not to the National Post's editorial operations. The paper has reported on Black's legal troubles independently. Black no longer has any ownership stake in the National Post.