Frank magazine plans to return as a digital publication in October with a metered paywall model. Michael Bate, who co-founded Frank in 1989, will once again be at the reigns.

A bi-weekly satirical publication skewering Canadian politics, media and business, the Ottawa-based Frank (which grew out of a Halifax-based publication launched in 1987) and its website efrank.ca shut down in 2008. This was its second closure. The mag first ceased operations in 2004 under different ownership but was revived by Bate in 2005. According to Bate, the time is right for another go.

Speaking to canada.com, Bate said the current political climate is reminiscent of the early 90s, the tail end of Brian Mulroney's time as Prime Minister. “Historically our scandals have always been second-rate and we’ve always looked to the Americans for scandal stories about Britney Spears, Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinsky. But with Rob Ford we have a world-class scandal,” Bate said to the Toronto Star.

According to both reports, subscriptions will be $10-$15 per month, in the same vein as Andrew Sullivan's The Dish.