Federally funded publisher recuses himself after wife lands senior Privy Council job
The Logic's editor and majority shareholder David Skok says he will no longer participate in coverage of the Liberal government.

The editor of The Logic, an online business publication that has received nearly $2 million from Ottawa, says he will no longer participate in coverage of the Liberal government after his wife was hired as a senior Privy Council advisor.
Since 2020, The Logic has received $1,922,210 in federal funding, including $955,742 in sole-sourced contracts and $966,467 in grants, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
That figure does not include undisclosed payments through a Canada Revenue Agency program offering government-approved publishers subsidies of up to $29,750 annually for each eligible newsroom employee.
As first reported by Blacklock’s, The Logic editor and majority shareholder David Skok recused himself from federal government coverage after his wife, Alison Loat, was appointed to the Privy Council Office on August 12.
The Privy Council did not answer questions about the appointment, which was not publicly announced when it was made.
The Logic said Skok’s recusal will remain in effect for the duration of Loat’s government employment. Skok maintained that accepting public money does not influence the outlet’s editorial decisions.
Before accepting federal funding, Skok warned that Ottawa’s journalism subsidies would pick winners, harm start-ups and undermine public confidence.
“I founded The Logic on the belief that journalistic independence comes from financial independence,” he wrote in 2019, calling the subsidy policy “an insult to the audience.”
Skok later accepted a 2024 Liberal government appointment to a Canadian Heritage panel tasked with advising Ottawa on strengthening the CBC. The panel’s work was never made public.
The Logic also received an undisclosed grant of up to $35,000 for election coverage in 2025.
Sheila Gunn Reid
Chief Reporter
Sheila Gunn Reid is the Editor-in-Chief, Alberta Bureau Chief, member of the board of directors, and host of The Gunn Show at Rebel News. Sheila also serves as President of the Independent Press Gallery of Canada. A mother of three and longtime conservative activist, Sheila is the author of bestselling books, including her most recent release, Independence Blueprint: What Alberta Can Learn From Quebec.
https://mybook.to/sheila