PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR APPOINTMENT

September 5, 2002
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced the appointment of Edward Roberts as the next Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Biographical information is attached.

- 30 -

PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555

Edward Moxon Roberts, Q.C.

Edward Roberts is one of the best known and respected public figures in Newfoundland and Labrador. He is also an avid student of history and he has a fine collection of Newfoundlandia.

He was a member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1966 to 1982 and again from 1992 to 1996. From 1992 to 1996, he was Minister of Justice and Government House Leader. From 1969 to 1972, he served as Minister of Health. He entered Cabinet as Minister of Public Welfare from 1968 to 1969. From 1972 to 1977, Mr. Roberts was Leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Assembly.

Mr. Roberts earned his LL.B. in 1964 from the University of Toronto. He was called to the Bar of Newfoundland in 1965. In 1978, he joined the firm of Halley, Hickman, Hunt and Adams where he was Senior Partner at the time he rejoined government in 1992. Since 1997, he has been with the firm Patterson, Palmer. He was named a Queen's Counsel in 1979. He was appointed Master of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland in 1989.

Mr. Roberts has also given his time to numerous voluntary and philanthropic organizations, including serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Waterford General Hospital in St. John's from 1990 to 1991 and, since 1997, as Chairman of the Board of Regents of Memorial University of Newfoundland. He is also a life member of the Brigus Historical Society and the Newfoundland Historical Society.

Mr. Roberts lives in St. Phillips with his wife Eve. He is 62 years of age.