Le Droit
Encyclopedia
Le Droit is a Canadian
daily newspaper, published in Ottawa
, Canada
. Initially established and owned by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
, the paper was has been published by Gesca since 2000.
, an Ontario legislation that restricted education in French at that time. Today, it defends federalism in Canada as well as provincial jurisdictions. It is still involved in the protection of francophone rights in Ontario, notably advocating for the survival of the Montfort Hospital
during the government of Ontario premier Mike Harris
.
In the 1960s, Le Droit tried to extend its market into Northeastern Ontario
, including the North Bay
, Timmins
and Sudbury areas, but quickly abandoned the project due to high costs. Originally published as a broadsheet
, it switched to tabloid format in 1988, following an 11-week strike by the pressmen. The newspaper also had a previous strike in 1982.
In 2001, Gesca, a subsidiary of Power Corporation owned by Franco-Ontarian Paul Desmarais
acquired the paper from Conrad Black
's Hollinger
, who owned it between 1987 and 2001. In the eighties, it belonged to Montreal-based Jacques Francoeur, the founder of Sunday weekly Dimanche-Matin, who built the Unimedia chain which included Le Soleil (Quebec City) and Le Quotidien (Chicoutimi, now Saguenay). He acquired Le Droit from the Oblates.
The publisher is Jacques Pronovost since 2007. Before him, it was led by Claude Gagnon (2002–2007), Pierre Bergeron (1993–2002), Gilbert Lacasse (1987–1993) and Jean-Robert Bélanger (1953?-1987). Managing editors: Jean Gagnon (presently), André Larocque (2006–2010), Michel Gauthier (2001–2006), François Roy (1994-2001), Claude Beauregard (1994), Gilbert Lavoie (1991–1994), André Préfontaine (1989–1991), etc.
daily newspaper currently published in Ontario
for the Franco-Ontarian
community and was the fourth all-time (the previous three existed in the 19th century). It is also read by francophones who live in and around Gatineau
, Quebec
, directly across the Ottawa River
from Ottawa. Its articles can also be read on the Internet
in the Cyberpresse network, which also includes La Presse in Montreal
, Le Soleil
in Quebec City
, Le Nouvelliste
in Trois-Rivières
, La Tribune
in Sherbrooke, La Voix de l'Est in Granby
and Le Quotidien in Saguenay
.
Its main offices are located near the Byward Market
with a second office located at Les Promenades de l'Outaouais
in Gatineau. It currently has about 150 employees.
published an editorial criticizing the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for its handling of Le5 Communications
' application to acquire two francophone radio stations, CHYC-FM
in Sudbury and CHYK-FM
in Timmins. The paper took issue with the fact that the CRTC's original notice of hearing was published only in Le Droit, and not in any of the region's local media — thereby giving the francophone community in Northeastern Ontario little notice of either the pending transaction or the deadlines for reviewing and submitting comments regarding the application.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
daily newspaper, published in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Initially established and owned by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is a missionary religious congregation in the Catholic Church. It was founded on January 25, 1816 by Saint Eugene de Mazenod, a French priest born in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France on August 1, 1782. The congregation was given recognition by Pope...
, the paper was has been published by Gesca since 2000.
History
The newspaper was launched at that period as a tool to condemn Regulation 17Regulation 17
Regulation 17 was a regulation of the Ontario Ministry of Education, issued in July 1912 by the Conservative government of premier Sir James P. Whitney. It restricted the use of French as a language of instruction to the first two years of schooling. It was amended in 1913, and it is that version...
, an Ontario legislation that restricted education in French at that time. Today, it defends federalism in Canada as well as provincial jurisdictions. It is still involved in the protection of francophone rights in Ontario, notably advocating for the survival of the Montfort Hospital
Montfort Hospital
The Montfort Hospital is a hospital in Ottawa, Canada. It is noted for being the only fully bilingual hospital in the province of Ontario.The hospital was founded in 1953 by the Filles de la Sagesse Catholic order and was named after one of its founders Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort. It...
during the government of Ontario premier Mike Harris
Mike Harris
Michael Deane "Mike" Harris was the 22nd Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. He is most noted for the "Common Sense Revolution", his Progressive Conservative government's program of deficit reduction in combination with lower taxes and cuts to government...
.
In the 1960s, Le Droit tried to extend its market into Northeastern Ontario
Northeastern Ontario
Northeastern Ontario is the region within the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north and east of Lakes Superior and Huron.Northeastern Ontario consists of the districts of Algoma, Sudbury, Cochrane, Timiskaming, Nipissing and Manitoulin; and the single-tier municipality of Greater...
, including the North Bay
North Bay, Ontario
North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District, and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing.-History:...
, Timmins
Timmins
Timmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattagami River. At the time of the Canada 2006 Census, Timmins' population was 42,997...
and Sudbury areas, but quickly abandoned the project due to high costs. Originally published as a broadsheet
Broadsheet
Broadsheet is the largest of the various newspaper formats and is characterized by long vertical pages . The term derives from types of popular prints usually just of a single sheet, sold on the streets and containing various types of material, from ballads to political satire. The first broadsheet...
, it switched to tabloid format in 1988, following an 11-week strike by the pressmen. The newspaper also had a previous strike in 1982.
In 2001, Gesca, a subsidiary of Power Corporation owned by Franco-Ontarian Paul Desmarais
Paul Desmarais
Paul Desmarais, Sr., is a Canadian financier in Montreal. With an estimated net worth of $US 4.5 billion , Desmarais was ranked by Forbes as the 4th wealthiest person in Canada and 235th in the world.Desmarais also owns homes in Palm Beach, Florida and New York.He is CEO of the Power Corporation...
acquired the paper from Conrad Black
Conrad Black
Conrad Moffat Black, Baron Black of Crossharbour, OC, KCSG, PC is a Canadian-born member of the British House of Lords, and a historian, columnist and publisher, who was for a time the third largest newspaper magnate in the world. Lord Black controlled Hollinger International, Inc...
's Hollinger
Hollinger Inc.
Hollinger Inc. was a Canadian media company based in Toronto. It was created by the Canadian businessman Conrad Black as a holding company for his media interests after he acquired control of The Daily Telegraph in 1986. It was the parent company of Chicago-based Hollinger International, whose...
, who owned it between 1987 and 2001. In the eighties, it belonged to Montreal-based Jacques Francoeur, the founder of Sunday weekly Dimanche-Matin, who built the Unimedia chain which included Le Soleil (Quebec City) and Le Quotidien (Chicoutimi, now Saguenay). He acquired Le Droit from the Oblates.
The publisher is Jacques Pronovost since 2007. Before him, it was led by Claude Gagnon (2002–2007), Pierre Bergeron (1993–2002), Gilbert Lacasse (1987–1993) and Jean-Robert Bélanger (1953?-1987). Managing editors: Jean Gagnon (presently), André Larocque (2006–2010), Michel Gauthier (2001–2006), François Roy (1994-2001), Claude Beauregard (1994), Gilbert Lavoie (1991–1994), André Préfontaine (1989–1991), etc.
Today
It is the only francophoneFrancophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
daily newspaper currently published in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
for the Franco-Ontarian
Franco-Ontarian
Franco-Ontarians are French Canadian or francophone residents of the Canadian province of Ontario. They are sometimes known as "Ontarois"....
community and was the fourth all-time (the previous three existed in the 19th century). It is also read by francophones who live in and around Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, directly across the Ottawa River
Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
from Ottawa. Its articles can also be read on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
in the Cyberpresse network, which also includes La Presse in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Le Soleil
Le Soleil
Le Soleil is a French-language daily newspaper in Quebec City, Quebec. It was founded on December 28, 1896 and is published in compact format since April 2006...
in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Le Nouvelliste
Le Nouvelliste (Quebec)
Le Nouvelliste is the Mauricie regional newspaper, based in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. It is part of the Gesca media conglomerate. It was part of the Parizeau Affair, a political affair of the 2003 Quebec general election.-External links:*...
in Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières means three rivers in French and may refer to:in Canada*Trois-Rivières, the largest city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada*Circuit Trois-Rivières, a racetrack in Trois-Rivières, Quebec...
, La Tribune
La Tribune (Sherbrooke)
La Tribune is a French Canadian daily newspaper founded and published in Sherbrooke, Quebec since 1910....
in Sherbrooke, La Voix de l'Est in Granby
Granby, Quebec
Granby is a city in southwestern Quebec, located east of Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 47,637. Granby is the seat of La Haute-Yamaska Regional County Municipality. It is the fifth most populated city in Montérégie after Longueuil, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Brossard and...
and Le Quotidien in Saguenay
Saguenay, Quebec
Saguenay is a city in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec, Canada, on the Saguenay River, about north of Quebec City....
.
Its main offices are located near the Byward Market
Byward Market
ByWard Market is a district in Lower Town located east of the government & business district, surrounding the market buildings and open-air market on George, York, ByWard and William Streets.The district is bordered on the west by Sussex Drive, on the...
with a second office located at Les Promenades de l'Outaouais
Les Promenades de l'Outaouais
Les Promenades de l'Outaouais is a major shopping centre located in Canada's National Capital Region. It is located in the city of Gatineau near the intersection of Greber and Maloney Boulevards, one of the city's busiest intersections and just off Autoroute 50.It is considered to be the second...
in Gatineau. It currently has about 150 employees.
Controversy
In 2008, Sudbury's francophone community newspaper Le VoyageurLe Voyageur
Le Voyageur is a weekly community newspaper in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, serving the city's Franco-Ontarian community. The newspaper was launched on June 12, 1968, shortly after the demise of the region's earlier francophone community newspaper L'Ami du peuple, and is distributed throughout...
published an editorial criticizing the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for its handling of Le5 Communications
Le5 Communications
Le5 Communications is a Canadian media company. Based in Sudbury, Ontario, the company operates radio stations and newspapers in the Northeastern Ontario region....
' application to acquire two francophone radio stations, CHYC-FM
CHYC-FM
CHYC-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at FM 98.9 in Sudbury, Ontario. It broadcasts a francophone hot adult contemporary format for the city's franco-ontarian community. It is owned by Le5 Communications, and branded as Le Loup 98.9....
in Sudbury and CHYK-FM
CHYK-FM
CHYK-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at FM 104.1 in Timmins, Ontario. It broadcasts a francophone hot adult contemporary format for the city's Franco-Ontarian community. It is owned by Le5 Communications, and branded as Le Loup 104.1....
in Timmins. The paper took issue with the fact that the CRTC's original notice of hearing was published only in Le Droit, and not in any of the region's local media — thereby giving the francophone community in Northeastern Ontario little notice of either the pending transaction or the deadlines for reviewing and submitting comments regarding the application.