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Jacques Poitras

Jacques Andre Poitras (born 1967 or 1968) is a Canadian journalist and author. As New Brunswick's provincial affairs reporter for CBC News, Poitras does reporting work for politics within New Brunswick. Outside of doing reporting work, Poitras has written five non-fiction books, for which he has received multiple awards and nominations.

Jacques Poitras
Born
Jacques Andre Poitras[1]

1967 or 1968 (age 56–57)
Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
Alma materCarleton University (B.J., 1990), (M.J., 1991)
OccupationReporter for CBC News
Years active2000–present
Websitejacquespoitras.wordpress.com

Early life and career

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Jacques Poitras was born in Moncton, New Brunswick,[2] in either 1967 or 1968.[a] After attending Moncton High School,[2] Poitras attended the Carleton School of Journalism, where he received his Bachelor of Journalism in 1990 and Master of Journalism in 1991.[4] Additionally, Poitras was listed in the Deans' Honour List in 1989.[1] After graduating, Poitras began his career in journalism as an intern staff writer for The Kingston Whig-Standard,[5][4] after which worked for the English weekly newspaper Prognosis, which was based in the Czech capital Prague.[6][7][8]

Career

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Journalism in New Brunswick

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In 1993, after working for Prognosis, Poitras began working as a reporter for the Telegraph-Journal, a Saint John-based daily newspaper then-owned by Irving,[9][10] during which he reported on Canadian Parliament affairs as a correspondent based in Ottawa.[11][12][13] In 1999, Poitras received an Amnesty International Canada media award under the "Local/Alternative Print" category.[14] Since 2000, Poitras has worked for CBC News as New Brunswick's provincial affairs reporter.[15] Based in Fredericton, he does political reporting in New Brunswick,[16] covering topics such as elections and electoral districts.[17] Poitras has also served as the New Brunswick Legislature's press gallery president,[18] and has done extensive reporting work on the legislature.[19] For two consecutive years, Poitras was a recipient of RTDNA Canada's "top national feature reporting award."[20] The National Newspaper Awards have also given attention to his work.[21] In 2019, Poitras published an article about Blaine Higgs on The Canadian Encyclopedia.[22]

In 2022, he participated as a mentor for the Canadian Association of Journalists' mentorship program.[23] Poitras has also done part-time teaching at St. Thomas University.[3] During the 2024 Atlantic Journalism Awards, Poitras, along with Danielle McCreadie and Vanessa Vander Valk, received the gold award under the "Audio" category's "Breaking News" section for their report on Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Dorothy Shephard resigning surrounding the events of Policy 713.[24][25][26]

Author

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Poitras has written five non-fiction books,[15] two of which have been finalist nominations for the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing, which he was also a jurist of during the 2023 nominations.[27] His debut book, The Right Fight: Bernard Lord and the Conservative Dilemma, was published by Goose Lane Editions in 2004.[28][29] The gives a three-decade long historical recount of politics in New Brunswick and additionally covers then-Premier Bernard Lord,[30] and was shortlisted for the Atlantic Booksellers' Choice Award.[31] For a portion of the book, Poitras interviewed former New Brunswick Confederation of Regions Party member and Progressive Conservative MLA Tony Huntjens, who said in quotes that he "opposes duality in the education system and remains hopeful the two systems can be integrated someday," which resulted in him being criticized by the Acadian Society of New Brunswick as well as the New Brunswick Liberal Association.[32][33]

In 2007, he published Beaverbrook: A Shattered Legacy,[34] which covers the ownership dispute over the artworks in the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, an art gallery in Fredericton which was founded by Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook.[35] Later in 2011, he wrote the Goose Lane Editions-published Imaginary Line: Life on an Unfinished Border.[36] In writing the book, which was a finalist nomination for the Shaughnessy Cohen Price for Political Writing,[37] Poitras had to repeatedly cross the border and check for boundary markers,[38] and spent a month during May 2010 interviewing residents on both sides along the border.[3] The book covers the history of the Canada–United States border between New Brunswick and Maine, as well as the issues faced by locals due to the strengthened border regulations that resulted from the September 11 attacks.[39][40]

His 2018 Pipe Dreams: The Fight for Canada’s Energy Future, published by Penguin Random House Canada,[41] delves into the failed Energy East pipeline proposal in Canada.[42][43] It was named the Petroleum History Society's 2018 Book of the Year,[44] was a finalist nominated for the 2018 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing,[45][27][46] shortlisted for the John W. Dafoe Book Prize in 2019,[47] and was additionally a bronze medalist for the 2020 Axion Business Book Awards under the "Business Commentary" category.[48] Michael Sobota of The Chronicle-Journal called the book an "industrial thriller," adding that Poitras' "narrative is well researched with facts, data and personal opinions from a full spectrum of those involved with or impacted by the project."[49]

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Throughout the 2010s, Poitras conducted research and published work on the Irving Group of Companies and the Irving family, facing harsh pushback from the Irvings themselves. In 2014, he published Irving vs. Irving: Canada's Feuding Billionaires and the Stories They Won't Tell, described by Bruce Livesey of Canada's National Observer as detailing about "the recent history of the Irvings' media holdings, as well as the deteriorating relationship among the Irving brothers and cousins as they squabble over the empire's wealth and future direction." The book received positive reception and a National Business Book Award nomination.[50]

On December 2, 2015, Poitras published an article about Eilish Cleary's sudden leave from her position as Chief Medical Officer of Health in New Brunswick, noting that Cleary had been studying glyphosate, a herbicide recently labelled as "probably carcinogenic to humans" by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, at the time. In the article, Poitras briefly mentioned that glyphosate was used by J. D. Irving and NB Power.[51] Two days later, Mary Keith of J. D. Irving released a "sharply worded" statement in response,[52] calling the article a "sensational story" and accusing CBC News of presenting "an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory as fact," further claiming that CBC "falsely implied that J. D. Irving, Limited (JDI) is or was involved in some sort of conspiracy against Dr. Cleary because JDI uses glyphosate".[53] In their statement, Irving also demanded that CBC "immediately remove the story from their website, publish a full retraction, and apologize for their appalling behavior". Poitras responded back on Twitter with a tweet stating, "We stand by our story."[52][54]

Poitras has also been the _target of attempts by J. D. Irving to ban him from writing about the Irvings and their operations. In 2016, J. D. Irving filed a complaint to CBC's ombudsman; a review by Jack Nagler of CBC concluded that it had no merit. In early 2017, the company filed a second complaint, this time hiring Lenczner Slaght LLP to assist in drafting the complaint. It was reviewed by Esther Enkin, a different CBC ombudsman, and dismissed a second time. According to Enkin, restricting Poitras from writing about the Irvings or using his personal Twitter account "would amount to a form of censorship". Nova Scotia-based journalist Stephen Kimber commented on the attempted sanctions from J. D. Irving against Poitras, stating his belief that Irving is trying to bully the media.[50]

Publications

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  • The Right Fight: Bernard Lord and the Conservative Dilemma. Goose Lane Editions. 2004. ISBN 9780864923769.
  • Beaverbrook : A Shattered Legacy. Goose Lane Editions. 2007. ISBN 9780864924971.
  • Imaginary Line: Life on an Unfinished Border. Goose Lane Editions. 2011. ISBN 978-0864926500.
  • Irving vs. Irving: Canada's Feuding Billionaires and the Stories They Won't Tell. Penguin Random House Canada. 2014. ISBN 978-0670067718.[55]
  • Pipe Dreams: The Fight for Canada's Energy Future. Canada: Viking Press. 2018. ISBN 9780735233355.

Notes

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  1. ^ Poitras was 43 years old as of a 27 September 2011 article by The Aquinian.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Carleton University Deans' Honour List 1989". Carleton University. The Ottawa Citizen. 18 November 1989. p. 46. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b "New Brunswick Author Portal". Government of New Brunswick. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Noel, Cedric (27 September 2011). "Jacques Poitras' new book sheds light New Brunswick-Maine border – The Aquinian". The Aquinian. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Jacques Poitras". Carleton University. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  5. ^ Poitras, Jacques (8 May 1991). "Eliminate railway crossing, council told". The Kingston Whig-Standard. p. 29. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Czechs and church property". The Christian Century. 6 October 1993. ProQuest 217215026. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Not one, but two book nominations for Jacques Poitras (BJ '90/MJ '91)". Carleton University. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  8. ^ Poitras, Jacques (16 February 1993). "Letter From Prague". The Kingston Whig-Standard. p. 6. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  9. ^ Wong, Jan (7 October 2014). "Monopolies' deadening effect on news". The Chronicle Herald. ProQuest 1774046903. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  10. ^ O'Connor, Elaine (16 June 2002). "The X-ed Files". Review of Journalism. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Reform shows sense of humor". Alberni Valley Times. 14 April 1997. p. 4. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  12. ^ Poitras, Jacques (30 September 1997). "'An arrow's flight above': Jacques Poitras looks back over retired Supreme Court Justice Gerard La Forest's life, and his legacy". The Ottawa Citizen. ProQuest 240114763. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Gag on job figures backed". Canadian Press. The Vancouver Sun. 22 March 1996. p. 3. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  14. ^ "The Winners – Sources 46". Sources. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Jacques Poitras". CBC News. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  16. ^ Hall, Chris (12 September 2020). "Report on the provincial election campaign in New Brunswick and how it has been affected by COVID-19". CBC Television. ProQuest 2441944622. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  17. ^ Petty, Kathleen (23 April 2011). "A closer look at the election campaign in Atlantic Canada". CBC Television. ProQuest 863085436. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  18. ^ Chilibeck, John (1 December 2011). "Legislature to review rules". Telegraph-Journal. ProQuest 906936640. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Liberal energy critic gets schooled; The lighter side of the legislature". Telegraph-Journal. 1 April 2023. ProQuest 2887964756. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  20. ^ "N.B. authors in running for storytelling awards". Times & Transcript. 14 April 2005. ProQuest 422870199. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  21. ^ "Award-Winning Author Jacques Poitras to Appear At UMFK". University of Maine at Fort Kent. 23 September 2011. ProQuest 893890384. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Blaine Higgs". The Canadian Encyclopedia. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Fall is here and so is the launch of the Canadian Association of Journalists' next round of the mentorship program". Canadian Association of Journalists. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  24. ^ "RECOGNIZING ATLANTIC CANADIAN JOURNALISTIC EXCELLENCE". ajas.ca. Atlantic Journalism Awards. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  25. ^ "CBC journalists win Atlantic Journalism Awards". CBC Communications. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  26. ^ Poiras, Jacques (15 June 2023). "Minister quits as legislature condemns N.B. premier's LGBTQ policy change". CBC News. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  27. ^ a b "Jacques Poitras". Writers' Trust of Canada. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  28. ^ Jacobs, Donna (26 December 2005). "Lord balances family duty, pressures of politics Series: Mornings: [Final Edition]". The Ottawa Citizen. ProQuest 240909120. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  29. ^ Poitras, Jacques (2 October 2004). "The perfect candidate; A look at how Bernard Lord's roots helped him win the 1997 Tory leadership convention". Telegraph-Journal. ProQuest 423221158. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  30. ^ Martin, Lawrence (30 October 2004). "The Tory Hamlet". The Globe and Mail. ProQuest 383781741. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  31. ^ "N.B. authors in running for storytelling awards". Times & Transcript. 14 April 2005. ProQuest 422870199. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  32. ^ "Anti-bilingualism comments retracted". Times & Transcript. 7 October 2004. ProQuest 422884362. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  33. ^ Kaufield, Kathy (7 October 2004). "Minister changes his mind about comments in book". Telegraph-Journal. ProQuest 423221128. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  34. ^ Schlichenmeyer, Terri (8 August 2008). "The Bookworm". The Parksville Qualicum News. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  35. ^ Greenslade, Roy (22 October 2007). "Sad battle over Beaverbrook's art legacy". The Canadian Press. The Guardian. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  36. ^ Poitras, Jacques (9 September 2011). "The border: Remember Forest City". The Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  37. ^ "Richard Gwyn wins Shaughnessy Cohen Prize". Calgary Herald. 27 April 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  38. ^ Shribman, David M. (15 November 2011). "Imaginary Line: Life on an Unfinished Border, by Jacques Poitras". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  39. ^ Dumville, Jim (25 October 2011). "'Imaginary Line'; Jacques Poitras will be at Connell House on Thursday to talk about his book highlighting the U.S.-Canada border". The Bugle-Observer. ProQuest 900339577. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  40. ^ "Latest book by Jacques Poitras looks at border dividing New Brunswick and Maine". The Daily Gleaner. 1 October 2011. ProQuest 895292746. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  41. ^ "Pipe Dreams – A book launch featuring author Jacques Poitras". Journalism and Communication – Carleton University. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  42. ^ "Journalist Takes Slide Inside Pipeline Politics". National Post. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  43. ^ "Journalist Jacques Poitras conducts post mortem on Energy East". National Post. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  44. ^ "Award Winners". Petroleum History Society. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  45. ^ "Book prize list full of first-timers". Toronto Star. 4 April 2019. ProQuest 2202731898. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  46. ^ "2019 Book Prize Shortlist". J. W. Dafoe Foundation. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  47. ^ "John W. Dafoe prize short list announced". Winnipeg Free Press. 4 April 2019. ProQuest 2202692801. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  48. ^ "2020 Medalists". Axiom Business Book Awards. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  49. ^ Sobota, Michael (30 September 2018). "Pipe Dreams: The Fight For Canada's Energy Future by Jacques Poitras, Published by Penguin Radio. A Review by Michael Sobota". The Chronicle-Journal. ProQuest 2114163905. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  50. ^ a b Livesey, Bruce (24 March 2017). "Are the Irvings trying to censor CBC reporter Jacques Poitras?". Canada's National Observer. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  51. ^ Poitras, Jacques (2 December 2015). "Dr. Eilish Cleary studying glyphosate when put on leave". CBC News. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  52. ^ a b "JD Irving Attacks CBC Over Glyphosate Story". Huddle. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  53. ^ "J.D. Irving, Limited Responds to Unprofessional CBC New Brunswick Story". J. D. Irving. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  54. ^ Lytvynenko, Jane (15 December 2015). "Why Is J.D. Irving Calling On The CBC To Remove "Unprofessional" Story?". Canadaland. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  55. ^ Coulson, D'Arcy (5 November 2014). "Jacques Poitras on the Irvings' relationship with journalism | J-Source". J-Source. Retrieved 30 April 2024.

External websites

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