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<title>APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF AIR NEGOTIATOR FOR CANADA</title>
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<p><font size="+1"><strong></strong></font><font size="+1"><strong>October 9, 2003 <em>(9:15 a.m. EDT)</em> No. 153</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF AIR NEGOTIATOR FOR CANADA</strong></font></p>
<p>Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham and Transport Minister David Collenette today announced the appointment of John
A. McNab as Chief Air Negotiator for Canada. He replaces Duane Van Beselaere, who has recently retired from the public
service.</p>
<p>"Mr. McNab's broad experience and expertise in international trade make him ideally suited for this position," said Mr.
Graham. "I am certain that he will provide excellent leadership in the negotiation of sound bilateral air transport
agreements."</p>
<p>"As Chief Air Negotiator, Mr. McNab will conduct negotiations that are vital to Canada's air carriers, airport communities,
tourists, business travellers, investors and shippers," said Mr. Collenette. "Mr. McNab's experience in foreign affairs and
international trade should serve Canada well as he takes on this role."</p>
<p>Mr. McNab has demonstrated outstanding effectiveness and dedication throughout his diplomatic career, most recently as
Director of the European Union Division at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.</p>
<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>A biographical note is attached.</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<table border="1" width="100%" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1">
<tr valign="TOP"><td>Isabelle Savard
<p>Director of Communications</p>
<p>Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</p>
<p>(613) 995-1851</td>
<td>Amy Butcher</p>
<p>Director of Communications</p>
<p>Office of the Minister of Transport</p>
<p>(613) 991-0700</td></tr>
<tr valign="TOP"><td>Media Relations Office</p>
<p>Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 995-1874</td>
<td></td></tr></table>
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<p>This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Internet site:
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221102109/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE</strong></font></p>
<p><strong>John A. McNab</strong> (BSc, Queen's University, 1973; MSc [Economics], London Business School, University of
London,1975) joined the public service as a Policy Analyst with the Department of Communications in 1975. He joined the
Trade Commissioner Service in 1979 and served abroad in Mexico City, Baghdad, Washington, at the Permanent Mission
to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)/World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, and in Paris, where
he was Minister-Counsellor (Economic and Commercial Affairs) from 1998 to 2002. In Ottawa, he held a number of
positions including Director of the Trade Remedies Division. Since 2002, he has served as Director of the European Union
Division.</p>
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