Transcontinental Inc. will print the Toronto-based Globe and Mail for 18 years, according to a new contract, valued at C$1.7 billion, Editor & Publisher reported.

The Globe and Mail took competitive bids from Canadian printers for 18 months, and the new contract will begin in 2010.

Transcontinental will print The Globe and Mail everywhere but in the countries prairies, and in colour on every page, according to E&P. The contract for the prairie region, which includes Manitoba, Saskatchewan and parts of Alberta and Northern Ontario, will be separate, according to E&P.

Transcontinental will invest about C$200 million in a new plant in 2009 and 2010, which will integrate newspaper printing and advertising circulars, which will allow it to print the newspaper and materials for retail customers, E&P reported.

Currently, transcontinental has printing contracts with The Globe and Mail. It now manages printing in Nova Scotia, Halifax, Boucherville, Quebec and Mississauga, Ontario, E&P reported.