PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES AN APPOINTMENT
TO THE NATIONAL ROUND TABLE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY

October 2, 2003
Vancouver, British Columbia

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced the appointment of Patrice Merrin Best, of Toronto, Ontario, as a member of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy. This appointment is effective immediately.

Patrice Merrin Best is Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Sherritt International Corporation. She also serves as a director of Sherritt's Coal and Base Metals and businesses and chairs the Board of its Soybean Crushing business. Her previous experience includes positions with Canadian Pacific Limited, The Molson Companies Limited and Lac Minerals Ltd. Ms. Merrin Best graduated from Queen's University with a Bachelor of Arts and completed the Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.

The Round Table is an independent advisory body that provides decision makers, opinion leaders and the Canadian public with advice and recommendations on promoting sustainable development. It brings together distinguished Canadians from all sectors of society – government, industry, labour, academia, environmental organizations and aboriginal groups – dedicated to the promotion of sustainable development in Canada.

- 30 -