NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, November 7, 2003 - The Honourable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General Canada, today announced the following appointment:

Alphonsus E. Faour of St. John's is appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, Trial Division. He will be assigned to St. John's by the Chief Justice and replaces Mr. Justice K.J. Mercer who was appointed to the Court of Appeal.

Mr. Justice Faour received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of British Columbia in 1977, and was called to the Bar of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1978.

Since 1998, he has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Service Commission. He was previously Deputy Clerk of the Executive Council and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet in Newfoundland. In the past, he was a Member of Parliament and also practiced law with the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Justice, as well as a partner with Vivian and Faour.

Mr. Justice Faour has appeared before all levels of the courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada. He has been an instructor of the Bar Admission Course since 1989, and an executive member and past National President of the provincial branch of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada.

This appointment is effective immediately.

- 30 -

Ref.:

Catherine Gagnaire
Press Secretary
Minister's Office
(613) 992-4621