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Montreal's La Presse announces new official not-for-profit status

#72 of 122 articles from the Special Report: State of Journalism
La Presse president Pierre-Elliott Levasseur,
La Presse president Pierre-Elliott Levasseur responds to a question during a news conference on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 in Montreal. File photo by The Canadian Press/Paul Chiasson

Montreal-based La Presse news group says it has officially adopted a not-for-profit structure.

President Pierre-Elliott Levasseur announced on La Presse's website that the outlet is fully independent from the Power Corporation of Canada as of Saturday.

Going forward, Levasseur says the 130-year-old publication will operate as a "social trust" that will be administered by retired Supreme Court justice Louis LeBel.

La Presse first announced its intention to shift to a non-profit structure in May.

The Quebec government paved the way for the change last month by fast-tracking a bill to repeal a provision of an act adopted in 1967 regarding La Presse's ownership.

Power Corp., which owned La Presse through its subsidiary Square Victoria Communications Group, agreed to grant $50 million to the new venture.

The company also holds an investment in The Canadian Press as part of a joint agreement with Torstar and a subsidiary of the Globe and Mail.

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