Appointment to Softwood Lumber Board

(No. 362 - November 30, 2009 - 10 a.m. EST) The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today announced the appointment of Stéphane Rousseau to the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities, Inc., Board of Directors. Mr. Rousseau’s appointment as Canadian liaison is effective immediately.

“I am very pleased that Mr. Rousseau has accepted the role of Canadian liaison on the Endowment Board,” said Minister Day. “As a senior forestry executive with Kruger Inc., Mr. Rousseau brings a wealth of experience to the position. His knowledge of the lumber industry will be useful in promoting projects that are both economically viable and environmentally sustainable.”

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities, Inc., is a not-for-profit corporation that was established in accordance with the terms of the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) signed by Canada and the United States in 2006. Its mission is to develop and fund educational, charitable and environmentally sustainable projects in communities reliant on lumber.

The Endowment is one of three entities established by the SLA to support initiatives that benefit lumber communities in the United States. It was given $200 million under the terms of the agreement.

Mr. Rousseau is currently senior vice-president for continous improvement, innovation and business development at Kruger Inc. He takes over from John Weaver, whose three-year term has ended.

For futher information on the organization, please visit the Endowment’s website.

- 30 -

A biographical note on the appointee follows.

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Mélisa Leclerc
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Trade
and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
613-992-6186

Trade Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-996-2000

Biographical Note

Stéphane Rousseau (BSc [Chemical Engineering], École polytechnique de Montréal,1983; MSc, 1984; Executive Management Program, Queen’s University, 1998), is a native of Montreal who began his career as a chemical research engineer. He held several related positions before being named vice-president of operations in 1993 at Cartons St-Laurent in Matane, Quebec. Mr. Rousseau has served on different boards of directors within the industry, and is currently the senior vice-president for continous improvement, innovation and business development at Kruger Inc. He has worked in the Canadian forestry industry for over 25 years.

Kruger Inc.             

Kruger Inc. is a major Canadian producer of softwood lumber and other wood-related products. It operates facilities in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as in the United States and the United Kingdom. Kruger Inc. has about 9,000 employees.