Prime Minister Announces Appointment of Chief Executive Officer of the Parks Canada Agency

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced the appointment of Thomas E. Lee as the first Chief Executive Officer of the new Parks Canada Agency, effective December 21, 1998. Since August 1993, Mr. Lee has held the position of Assistant Deputy Minister, Parks Canada, with the Department of Canadian Heritage.

"Tom Lee is a long-standing expert in the area of parks and the preservation of Canada's national historic sites and heritage areas. I am very pleased that he will be the first CEO of the Agency," said the Prime Minister.

Mr. Lee's previous experience includes thirteen years with the British Columbia government, first with the Department of Recreation and Conservation as Director of Parks, and later as Assistant Deputy Minister of Lands and Housing with the Ministry of Lands, Parks and Housing. Before assuming his current position at Parks Canada, Mr. Lee served as Assistant Deputy Minister of Forestry Policy with Forestry Canada.

The creation of the Parks Canada Agency as a separate legal entity from the Department of Canadian Heritage was announced in the 1996 budget. It will be dedicated to continued excellence in the management and growth of Canada's system of national parks and historic places. The legislation establishing the Agency comes into force December 21, 1998.

Biographical notes attached.

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