18th edition - Official launch of the nomination period for the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec-Bank of America Merrill Lynch Economic and Financial Journalism Awards of Excellence

MONTRÉAL, Oct. 15, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Association des économistes québécois, in collaboration with its partners, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, today announced the launch of the candidate submissions period for the 18^th annual Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec–Bank of America Merrill Lynch Economic and Financial Journalism Awards of Excellence. This prestigious competition is intended to publicly recognize journalists who cover business and financial news for their role in providing information and analysis and making it understandable. Awards of $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500 will be issued to the winners at a ceremony set to take place at the Centre CDP Capital in early 2015.

Nominations and prizes
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec–Bank of America Merrill Lynch Economic and Financial Journalism Awards of Excellence are open to all journalists practicing their profession on behalf of print, audiovisual or electronic media whose main market is in Québec or to Québec correspondents for a Canadian media. To qualify, candidates must submit, by November 13, 2014, an economic or financial report published or broadcast between September 1, 2013, and August 31, 2014. Awards of excellence will be presented in the three following categories: long report; short report; and column, news analysis, commentary or editorial. Competition rules, category descriptions and registration information are available from the Association or on its website: www.economistesquebecois.com.

In 2014, the first prize, went to Anne Panasuk from the investigation program Enquête of Radio-Canada for her story SNC Lavalin : Plans et délits. The winner of the second prize was Francis Vailles of La Presse for his story Comment concocter un déficit zéro. Finally, the third prize was presented to Simon Diotte of the Affaires + magazine for his story Sommes-nous vraiment dans le trou?

"Almost 20 years ago, we initiated these Awards to highlight the excellent work of journalists who cover the financial and economic issues, and we are proud to publicly acknowledge their expertise in making the accessible of information to everyone," said Deep Khosla, managing director and head of Québec Regional Operations at Merrill Lynch Canada.

"When La Caisse decided to partner with this journalism award 11 years ago, the goal was to encourage excellence in a profession where rigour and insight are paramount," said Michael Sabia, President and Chief Executive Officer of La Caisse. "Today's media disseminates information through an ever-expanding array of channels, at an accelerating pace. This competition serves as a reminder that beyond the technological progress and the flashes of headlines, a journalist's true value stays the same: the ability to grasp fundamental issues and spur collective reflection. I am convinced that, once again, this year's candidates will rise to the challenge."

"Our Association's mission includes the dissemination of economic knowledge and we could not do our job without the close collaboration of journalists covering this industry daily. That's why we are proud to encourage excellence in economic and financial journalism through these Awards," concluded Denis Durand, President of the Association des économistes québécois.

Jury members
Chaired by Sylvie Dillard, former President of both the Association des économistes québécois (2010) and the Conseil de la science et de la technologie, the jury for this 18^th edition of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec–Bank of America Merrill Lynch Economic and Financial Journalism Awards of Excellence consists of Claude Beauchamp, journalist and former host of Capital Action (broadcast on RDI), Alain Guilbert, journalist and former President of Transcontinental Publications Inc., and Marie-Agnès Thellier, President and CEO of the Cercle des présidents and former Business Editor of Le Journal de Montréal.

Awards partners
La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is a long-term institutional investor that manages funds primarily for public and parapublic pension and insurance plans. As at June 30, 2014, it held $214.7 billion in net assets. As one of Canada's leading institutional fund managers, La Caisse invests in major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure and real estate, globally. For more information: www.lacaisse.com.

Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions. Bank of America Merrill Lynch focuses on middle-market and large corporations, institutional investors, financial institutions and government entities.  It provides innovative services in M&A, equity and debt capital raising, lending, trading, risk management, research, and liquidity and payments management. Bank of America Merrill Lynch serves clients in more than 150 countries. Bank of America Merrill Lynch has had a major presence in Québec for over 50 years.

The Association des économistes québécois is the main organization linking economists in Québec and is dedicated to the professional advancement of its 700 members. Its primary objective is to foster the development and dissemination of economic knowledge, to enlighten public debate and to provide support for the role of economists. In keeping with its slogan, "Pour des choix éclairés" (For enlightened choices), the Association is recognized as a credible and impartial opinion leader in economic debates. Founded in 1975, it is a dynamic association open not only to economists but to anyone interested in economic and financial issues. www.economistesquebecois.com

SOURCE: Association des économistes québécois (ASDEQ)

Valérie Gonzalo, 514 626.6976, [email protected]