Prime Minister Announces Mover and Seconder of Reply to the Speech From the Throne

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced today that MPs Sarmite Bulte (Parkdale-High Park) and Claude Drouin (Beauce) will move and second, respectively, the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne.

The Speech from the Throne will be delivered by Governor General Romeo LeBlanc in the Senate at approximately 2:30 p.m. this afternoon. The moving and seconding speeches will immediately follow in the House of Commons.

Biographies of Ms. Bulte and Mr. Drouin are attached.

PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555

Sarmite Bulte

A successful lawyer, entrepreneur, arts activist, and a national leader in the women's business community, Sarmite "Sam" Bulte was elected Member of Parliament for Parkdale-High Park in Toronto on June 2, 1997.

Before her election, Ms. Bulte ran her own full service law firm in downtown Toronto. She earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Windsor in 1978, and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1980.

Ms. Bulte has gained a national profile through her tireless work on behalf of small business, and as an arts advocate. She is a founding member and current Vice- President, International, Women Entrepreneurs of Canada (WEC); as well as a founding member and director of the WEC Foundation. In 1992, she was instrumental in organizing the first WEC conference, a U.S.-Canada Summit for Women Entrepreneurs.

Claude Drouin

Claude Drouin was elected the Member of Parliament for the riding of Beauce on June 2, 1997.

Before his election, he worked for the two Liberal MNAs from Beauce-Nord at the National Assembly for eleven years. In that riding, he also held the position of chief organizer of the "Yes" committee for the Charlottetown accord and the 1989 provincial election campaign.

Mr. Drouin was also coordinator on the Council for Canadian Unity (Chaudière- Appalaches Region) after having worked as a promotional agent for the town of Saint-Joseph. In addition, he was foreman for the Bocenor Group, recreational director in Frampton, and a representative of the Molson Brewery.

Born in 1956, Mr. Drouin lives in Saint-Georges.