NEWS RELEASES

December 16, 2004 (6:00 p.m. EST)
No. 151

EDC AND CCC WIN AUDITOR GENERAL'S AWARDS
AGAIN THIS YEAR

International Trade Minister Jim Peterson today congratulated Export Development Canada (EDC) and the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) on winning 2004 Auditor General's Awards for Excellence in Annual Reporting by Crown Corporations, the third year in a row for EDC and the second year in a row for the CCC. EDC won for the seventh time in eleven years in the larger Crown corporations category, while the CCC won for the second time in the smaller Crown corporations category.

"These 2004 Awards of Excellence for EDC and the CCC represent outstanding achievements in good governance among our federal Crown corporations," said Minister Peterson. "To have won in consecutive years is a demonstration of their sustained commitment to excellence in reporting and transparency, and makes them continued success stories for all of the federal public service."

The Auditor General's Award was launched in 1994 to recognize and reward exemplary achievement in annual reporting among Crown corporations, as well as to promote better performance reporting within this community. Crown corporations account for a significant portion of government activity and play a key role in implementing public policy.

EDC is a Canadian financial institution devoted exclusively to providing trade finance services to support Canadian exporters and investors in some 200 markets, 130 of which are in developing economies.

The CCC is an export contracting agency that brings buyers and Canadian exporters together. Since its inception in 1946, the CCC has provided assistance to thousands of companies from across Canada, helping them negotiate more than $30 billion in contracts with foreign governments and private-sector buyers.

Both EDC and the CCC report to Parliament through the Minister of International Trade.

More information is available on the Web site of the Auditor General of Canada: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Jacqueline LaRocque
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Trade
(613) 992-7332

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca