The 2000 Governor General's Awards for Literary Merit were presented by Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, and

Jean-Louis Roux Jean-Louis Roux, (May 18, 1923 – November 28, 2013) was a Canadian politician, entertainer and playwright who was briefly the List of lieutenant governors of Quebec#Lieutenant Governors of Quebec, 1867–present, 26th Lieutenant Governor of Que ...

, Chairman of the Canada Council for the Arts, on November 14 at Rideau Hall.

English-language finalists

Fiction

* Michael Ondaatje, ''

Anil's Ghost ''Anil's Ghost'' is the critically acclaimed fourth novel by Michael Ondaatje. It was first published in 2000 by McClelland and Stewart. ''Anil's Ghost'' follows the life of Anil Tissera, a native Sri Lankan who left to study in Britain and then ...

'' *

Margaret Atwood Margaret Eleanor Atwood (born November 18, 1939) is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, teacher, environmental activist, and inventor. Since 1961, she has published 18 books of poetry, 18 novels, 11 books of non-fiction, nin ...

, ''

The Blind Assassin ''The Blind Assassin'' is a novel by the Canadian writer Margaret Atwood. It was first published by McClelland and Stewart in 2000. The book is set in the fictional Ontario town of Port Ticonderoga and in Toronto. It is narrated from the present ...

'' * Austin Clarke, ''The Question'' *

David Adams Richards David Adams Richards (born 17 October 1950) is a Canadian writer and member of the Canadian Senate.

, '' Mercy Among the Children'' *

Eden Robinson Eden Victoria Lena Robinson (born 19 January 1968) is an Indigenous