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(Updated)
The hottest selling magazine in Canada, today doesn’t come from this country or even, from the United States.
Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical newspaper at the root of 12 murders, and a spate of violence in Europe, was available on Canadian newsstands, for the first time since a bloody siege on its Paris offices, nine days ago. However, not everyone who wanted a copy could get their hands on one.
The demand was brisk.
Nirmalijt Chadha: “There’s only 15-hundred. My phone is non-stop, it’s been non-stop.”
But the supply was lacking.
The latest issue of Charlie Hebdo was supposed to arrive at this Toronto newsstand today, but distribution problems kept the controversial magazine stalled in Montreal.
And even though every copy had already been spoken for, hopeful customers kept coming in;
“Sometimes it’s funny. Also you know, sometimes it goes too far.”
One woman, who did not want to give us her name, said she came to Canada from France in the ’60’s. Why did she want a copy?
“I don’t know, just for collection maybe, then pass it down to someone else. That’s it.”
Speculators were offering big money for the magazine;
Chadha said: “Hundred dollar, 200 dollar, 500 dollar, but we are not taking any extra money from anybody.”
Others had more thoughtful reasons for wanting a copy; like Claude Stren, who grew up in France: “I’d like to make up my mind about, you know, what’s right and what’s wrong. Certainly it’s wrong they should have died.”
Eamonn McConnell has never bought a copy of Charlie Hebdo before, but feels he should now: “It’s supporting what the magazine stood for, and it’s satirical in its approach, but it’s free speech, and if by purchasing a copy I’m making a vote of support, I’d like to do that.”
Steve Frankowski wanted to show his support too: “You feel helpless sometimes when you see these things going on but, the little bit you can do in this world.”
But today even a symbolic gesture like that, just wasn’t in store.
Even the owner of the Gateway News Shop isn’t entirely sure when exactly his share of the latest issue will arrive. It could be Monday. It could also be Tuesday.
He’s asked for additional copies to try to meet the spike in demand but says more than 200 people at his store alone, have already asked for a copy. And there are only 15-hundred in total available across Canada.
