Gil Courtemanche book removed from prize list
Last Updated: Thursday, November 25, 2010 | 4:37 PM ET
CBC News
Archambault has removed Gil Courtemanche's latest book from its nomination list for the French-language Archambault Prize for Literature.
Quebec author, Gil Courtemanche demanded his book be removed from the nomination list for the French-language Archambault Prize for Literature. (CBC) The Quebec author of Je ne veux pas mourir seul or I Don't Want do Die Alone refused the nomination to show his solidarity with locked out workers at Journal de Montréal, one of Quebec's most popular newspapers.
Media giant, Quebecor, locked out 253 editorial and office staff at the French-language daily in January 2009 after failing to renew their collective agreement.
The lockout has turned out to be the longest of its kind in North America and spawned an offshoot online publication — ruefrontenac.com — staffed by sidelined newsroom staff.
Media conglomerate Quebecor, which is owned by businessman Pierre Karl Péladeau, also owns the Quebec chain of Archambault entertainment stores.
In a statement published in French on Tuesday, Courtemanche said Péladeau's attitude towards the Journal de Montréal conflict has been characterized by "contempt, arrogance and the relentless pursuit of profit."
Courtemanche said, despite being pleased by the nomination, he wants his book removed from this year's $10,000 prize list.
The author of A Sunday in Kigali says writing is an "act of freedom" and he cannot accept that his name or any of his books be associated with the Quebecor "empire" which tramples such freedom.
Courtamanche ends by urging other nominees to follow his lead, to show their support for Journal de Montreal workers.
Wednesday afternoon the vice-president of Archambault, Denis Pascal, put out a statement saying the book has been pulled from the 11th edition of the awards ceremony at the author's request.
Pascal writes that Archambault is saddened but "we have heard his request and we respect it."
The media conference announcing the finalists took place Wednesday evening at the Monument National café in Montreal.
Thursday, opposition parties at Quebec's national assembly tabled a petition calling for a boycott of the Journal de Montréal and a review of the province's law on strike breakers to include work done during lockouts.
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