BRITISH COLUMBIA JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, June 19, 2003 -- The Honourable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable Wallace T. Oppal of Vancouver is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal of British Columbia. He replaces Mr. Justice A.D. Thackray who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Oppal graduated in law from the University of British Columbia in 1966, and was admitted to the Bar of British Columbia in 1967.

Mr. Justice Oppal was first appointed Judge of the County Court of Westminster in 1981, and Judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 1985. Prior to becoming a judge, he was a partner with the firm Campbell and Oppal.

This appointment is effective immediately.

The Honourable Peter D. Lowry of Vancouver is appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal of British Columbia. He will replace Madam Justice C.M. Huddart who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Lowry received a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1970, and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1971.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Justice Lowry had been a Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia since 1991. Previous to that, he was a partner with the firm Campney & Murphy.

This appointment is effective June 30, 2003.

- 30 -

Ref.:

Mike Murphy
Special Assistant - Communications
Minister's Offices
(613) 992-4621