Ottawa, 2006 October 31 — The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced the appointment of Mr. Michael C. Burns as Chair of the Board of Directors of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL).

“I am very pleased to confirm Michael Burns as Chairman of the Board of AECL,” said Minister Lunn. “Mr. Burns brings extensive experience in the energy field as well as a diverse and high-level knowledge of both the public and private sectors.”

Mr. Burns is currently Chair of NaiKun Wind Development in Vancouver, British Columbia. Previously, he was a senior executive with BC Gas Inc., where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He was also President of Inland Pacific Enterprises, a subsidiary of BC Gas. For 10 years, he acted as a consultant to senior management in a variety of public and private enterprises. He also held senior positions with IBM Corp.

Mr. Burns has extensive corporate and public-sector board and governance experience, including serving as a member of AECL’s Board of Directors from 1987 to 1990. He continues to sit on a number of corporate, community and association boards in Canada.

The position of Chair was advertised across Canada as part of a selection process managed by the Nominating Committee of AECL’s Board of Directors. Mr. Burns will take over the position as Chair from Mr. Jean-Pierre Soublière, who has been Acting Chair since August 2005.

AECL is a full-service nuclear-technology company providing services to nuclear utilities around the world. Established in 1952, it is the designer and builder of CANDU technology, including the CANDU 6, one of the world's-top performing reactors.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources has announced the appointment of Mr. Michael C. Burns as Chair of the Board of Directors of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. Mr. Burns is currently Chair of Naikun Wind Development in Vancouver, British Columbia.