Elaine C. Phénix Appointed to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

OTTAWA, June 26, 2008 — The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), today announced the appointment of Elaine C. Phénix to the Council.

"Ms. Phénix brings a wealth of experience in the field of securities, Canadian capital markets and financial planning," said Minister Prentice. "The diversity of her background and her experience will be a great asset to the Council. I welcome Ms. Phénix to NSERC."

Since 1999, Ms. Phénix has served as President of Phénix Capital Inc., which provides advisory services in financial planning for small and medium-sized companies. She was previously Executive Vice-President of the Montréal Exchange and from 1979 to 1994 served as Senior Vice-President and Director with Lévesque Beaubien Geoffrion, providing leadership in the marketing and distribution of new public issues.

Ms. Phénix holds a BA (Registered Securities Representative), earned a BA with Honours from Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, and is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute. She serves on various boards as member or chair of numerous audit, governance and compensation committees.

NSERC is a federal agency whose vision is to help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators to the benefit of all Canadians. The agency supports some 25 000 university students and post-doctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding more than 11 000 university professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 1400 Canadian companies to participate and invest in university research projects.

For more information (media only), please contact:

Deirdra McCracken
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jim Prentice
Minister of Industry
613-995-9001

Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502