NEWS RELEASES

August 8, 2000 (11:00 a.m. EDT) No. 194

PETTIGREW, GENERAL MOTORS ANNOUNCE

MEGA $330 MILLION EXPORT DEAL WITH AUSTRALIA

International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew today announced a $330 million deal between Australia and the General Motors Defence Division (GMDD), based in London, Ontario.

Australia's military has been planning to buy 146 Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) and support equipment to boost its peacekeeping capabilities, a deal valued at $330 million. On Friday, Australian Defence Minister John Moore confirmed that GMDD Canada is the successful tenderer and has been awarded the contract.

"I am very pleased that a Canadian company has secured this contract. This is quite a significant deal for Canada, one that attests to the high quality and value of Canadian goods on the international market," Minister Pettigrew said.

Minister Pettigrew took part today in an event to announce the deal at GMDD headquarters in London, along with GMDD Executive Director William Pettipas, Australian High Commissioner Gregory Wood, and Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) President Douglas Patriquin.

"Our company and our jobs thrive on contracts of this magnitude," said Mr. Pettipas. "We are very appreciative of Minister Pettigrew's assistance."

This contract is through the CCC, and is an amendment to an original contract for 111 LAVs signed in 1991. The contract requires the delivery of 146 General Motors (GM) LAVs and the retrofit (upgrade) of the existing Australian government LAV fleet.

"The Australian government is satisfied because we provide price certification and a government-backed guarantee of contract performance," said Mr. Patriquin. "Having our staff work on site at the GM plant in London is reassuring to customers like the Australians who are thousands of miles away."

Minister Pettigrew led a business mission to Australia May 29 to June 2 to boost trade and investment between the two countries. Canadian exports to Australia reached almost $947 million in 1999. Two-way trade between Canada and Australia totalled nearly $2.2 billion. Canadian investment in Australia totals about $2.8 billion, and more than 150 Canadian companies have subsidiaries operating in Australia.

The Canadian Commercial Corporation is an export sales agency of the Government of Canada specializing in sales to foreign governments. Canadian exporters selling through CCC gain greater access to government and other markets, as well as competitive advantage through CCC's contracting expertise and unique government-backed guarantee of contract performance.

CCC and GM have won over $2.5 billion in worldwide sales of LAVs over the last 20 years.

- 30 -

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Greg Fergus

Office of the Minister for International Trade

(613) 992-7332

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

Chris Dennett

General Motors Defence Division

(519) 642-4492