This new position of compliance officer will help to resolve complaints in these areas by encouraging dialogue between EDC and stakeholders. The officer will also provide EDC with advice regarding best-in-class practices, oversee compliance audits and monitor EDC's performance in these areas. EDC's Board of Directors created the position and will oversee the compliance officer's activities.

Alison Lawford was recently appointed EDC's first compliance officer. She brings to this role legal expertise, dispute resolution skills and business acumen. Before joining EDC, Ms. Lawford practiced law with the Ottawa office of a national law firm. She earned both an LL.B. and an LL.M. from the University of Ottawa.

This is the latest in a series of initiatives to address various corporate social responsibility issues identified during the review of EDC's legislation, completed last year. EDC established an Advisory Council of prominent leaders to provide advice and guidance on best practices in corporate social responsibility; hired a corporate social responsibility advisor to engage NGOs and interested parties in discussions on these issues; and brought on board an international expert as its new chief environmental advisor.

EDC also implemented a new disclosure policy last October that significantly increases the amount of information that is released publicly while assuring that commercially confidential information is protected. On environmental review issues, EDC has implemented an Environmental Review Directive which requires the corporation, before entering into certain project-related transactions, to determine whether projects are likely to have adverse environmental impacts and, if so, whether EDC is justified to enter into the transactions.

More information on these initiatives and the compliance officer's operational guidelines can be found on this Web site.

EDC provides trade finance and risk management services to Canadian exporters and investors in up to 200 markets. Founded in 1944, EDC is a Crown corporation that operates as a commercial financial institution.

For more information , please contact: Rod Giles, EDC Media Relations