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Ken Proctor, director of professional, trade, and reference books at Prentice - Hall Canada, confirmed in late April that jobs had been offered to some employees of Maxwell Macmillan's small trade and reference department, but would not reveal the number of positions open at Prentice - Hall. The following week, Prentice - Hall spokesperson Robert Ramsay told Q&Q that "Prentice - Hall doesn't comment on matters of staffing."
As part of its commitment to Investment Canada, Paramount promised to "ensure any personnel affected by the integration of Maxwell Macmillan Canada with Prentice - Hall Canada will be considered for job opportunities within the organization, or be provided with assistance in obtaining other employment." A government document later leaked to The Toronto Star revealed that Paramount planned to lay off 68 of Maxwell Macmillan's 115 employees.
One week later, Paramount owner Viacom announced it had reversed the decision. In a press release, Viacom said the proposed change had stemmed from new "reporting relationships" at Paramount Publishing in the U.S., and that after consultation with Investment Canada, it had decided to continue distributing "certain of its general reference titles, including the Betty Crocker and Prentice - Hall travel imprints, through a Canadian - owned distributor." Ramsay later confirmed that all the lines had been returned to Distican, although at Q&Q's press time in early May, Paramount had not decided if that was where they would stay.