( Added: October 19, 2009 ) - Allan Gotlieb, Chairman of the Donner Canadian Foundation, today announced the official Call for Submissions and Jury for the twelfth annual Donner Prize. In a statement released in Toronto, he says, "The Donner Canadian Foundation is once again looking for the best books on Canadian public policy. Last year's shortlisted books certainly generated a great deal of discussion on a number of topical, provocative and controversial subjects. We are eagerly waiting to see what the authors have in store for us this year, and who will eventually take home the $35,000 prize."

Regarding her new role as jury chair, Anne McLellan said, "The Donner Prize acknowledges the important work being done by outstanding Canadians in areas of critical public policy. I am proud to be chairing the jury this year and look forward to the submissions." McLellan has served on the Donner Prize jury for the past two years. She joined Bennett Jones LLP after a distinguished career in federal politics, where she served four terms as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre from 1993-2006. During her political career McLellan was Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Minister of Health, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister of Natural Resources and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians.

The Donner Canadian Foundation, one of Canada's largest foundations, created the prize to encourage increased research into public policy in Canada and to promote the discussion of policy issues in the public arena. The winner of the Donner Prize, the award for best book on Canadian public policy, will receive $35,000, with $5,000 being awarded to the other shortlisted titles (to a maximum of five titles). In giving this annual award, the Foundation seeks to not only broaden policy debate, but also to increase general awareness of the importance of policy discourse. "Winning the Donner Prize was a terrific honour," said Ken Coates, winner of the 2008 Prize. "The award drew attention to our work, generated renewed interest in the subject and allowed us to reach new audiences."

Books submitted for the prize should focus on Canadian public policy issues, for example: regulatory and legal reform, public finance, the environment, urban affairs, health care, and education reform. Submissions must be written by Canadian citizens, but they may be published by non-Canadian publishing houses, so long as the books have implications for Canada. For the 2009 prize, books that are written by Canadians in either English or French, between January 1, and December 31, 2009, are eligible. See www.DonnerBookPrize.com for complete rules regarding eligibility and submission procedures.