APPOINTMENT TO THE ST. JOHN'S PORT AUTHORITY

OTTAWA, Dec. 15 /CNW/ - The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced the appointment of Mr. Michael Crosbie of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, to the board of directors of the St. John's Port Authority, effective January 1, 2011.

"I am pleased that Mr. Crosbie has agreed to serve on the board of the St. John's Port Authority," said Minister Strahl. "His legal and real property expertise will be a valuable asset to the board."

Mr. Crosbie was called to the bar in 1983, after completing his law degree at Queen's University. He is a member of the Canadian Property Tax Association, the Canadian Bar Association, and the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. As a partner at McInnes Cooper, Mr. Crosbie focuses on real property law and related litigation. He is also a bar admission course instructor in civil procedure and a member of the law society disciplinary committee.

The St. John's Port Authority is the Canada Port Authority (CPA) established to manage the Port of St. John's under the Canada Marine Act. As a CPA, the St. John's Port Authority benefits from greater management flexibility, including increased freedom to develop contracts and borrow money from commercial lenders.

The Port of St. John's handles about 1.5 million tonnes of cargo annually. Its facilities handle a variety of ships, including bulk carriers, roll-on/roll-off vessels, forest products carriers, container ships, tankers and conventional cargo vessels. Since 1999, the Port of St. John's has undergone a significant transformation. Through its multi-million dollar Capital Investment Strategy, the port has revitalized infrastructure and strengthened partnerships for the benefit of all port users.

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For further information:

John Babcock
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Chuck Strahl
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700