Publisher cuts ties with Quebec author accused of AI use in award-winning novel

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Quebec publishing house Éditions du Boréal announced Wednesday it is ending its professional relationship with Thélyson Orélien.

Thélyson Orélien had denied AI use, admitted to past plagiarism

CBC News

· Posted: Oct 21, 2026 12:37 PM EDT | Last Updated: 8 minutes ago

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Canadian-Haitian novelist Thélyson Orélien looks on as he takes part in the 28th edition of Les Correspondances literature festival in Manosque, south-eastern France on Sept. 24, 2026.

Quebec publishing house Éditions du Boréal announced Wednesday it is ending its professional relationship with Thélyson Orélien.

In a news release, the publisher said new information, confirmed over the course of recent days, indicates that artificial intelligence was used in the writing process of Orélien's novel, C’était ça ou mourir, published earlier this year.

The news comes after Orélien's repeated assurances to Éditions du Boréal that he had not used such technology to create his novel.

"Consequently, Boréal will not reprint the novel, nor will it publish any further books by Thélyson Orélien," the release reads.

This is a developing story. More to come.

Written by Annabelle Olivier

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