News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS TO THE SECURITY INTELLIGENCE REVIEW COMMITTEE

September 3, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today the appointments of Dr. Arthur Thomas Porter and Mr. Denis Losier as members of the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC).

Dr. Porter, from Montréal, Quebec, is the Director General and CEO of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) in Montréal.

Mr. Losier, from Cap Pelé, New Brunswick, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Assumption Mutual Life Insurance Company of Moncton and former Member of the Legislative Assembly for Tracadie, New Brunswick having served as Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Minister of Commerce and Technology and Minister of Tourism, Recreation and Heritage.

In accordance with the requirements of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act, Dr. Porter and Mr. Losier were sworn into the Queen's Privy Council of Canada.

Established in 1984, SIRC provides an external review of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service's performance of its duties and functions and examines complaints by individuals or reports by minister relating to security clearances and the national security of Canada.

These appointments are effective immediately.

Biographical notes attached.

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Arthur T. Porter MA MD DBA DMRT FRCPC FACR FACRO FAAMA
Director General and CEO, McGill University Health Centre

Dr. Arthur T. Porter brings a unique blend of medical practice, finance and business experience to healthcare leadership.

After attending the University of Sierra Leone, he transferred to Cambridge University in England, where he received his B.A. in anatomy, M.A. in natural sciences and his Medical degree.

Later, Dr. Porter earned his M.B.A. from the University of Tennessee and certificates in Medical Management from Harvard University and the University of Toronto. He received his Diplomate Status and Fellowship in Health Care Administration from the American Academy of Medical Administrators.

Following his training in Medical and Radiation Oncology, Dr. Porter assumed several senior positions in Canada, including that of Senior Specialist at the University of Alberta, Chief of Radiation Oncology at the London Regional Cancer Centre and Chairman of Oncology at Victoria Hospital in Ontario.

Dr. Porter's extensive international background includes medical practice, business and academic leadership positions in Canada, Europe, Africa and the United States. He has also served as a Consultant to the World Health Organization, and has worked to establish international research and treatment programs in Turkey, India, Yemen, Bahamas, Brazil, Liberia, and throughout Europe.

In February 2004, Dr. Porter was appointed Director General and CEO of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) in Montréal, Canada. With six teaching hospitals affiliated with McGill University, the MUHC is one of the most comprehensive academic health centres in North America with over 1,300 clinicians and some 14,000 healthcare professionals, researchers and other personnel.

Dr. Porter continues to exploit his finance and business background. He teaches part of a M.B.A. course at the University of Tennessee (Mergers and Acquisitions) and at McGill's School of Business Administration (leadership).


Denis Losier

After completing his schooling in Tracadie, Mr. Losier obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 1973 and a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Economy) in 1974 from the University of Moncton. He continued his studies at the University of Western Ontario, where he received a Master's of Arts (Economy). In May 2003, Mr. Losier was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration from the Université de Moncton. Mr. Losier also received two Paul Harris Awards from the Rotary Club for his community services.

He started his career as an economist by accepting a position at the former Federal Ministry for Regional Industrial Expansion. He then went on to become President of the Société des Acadiens du Nouveau-Brunswick. From 1984 to 1986, he was First Secretary for Industrial Cooperation at the Canadian Embassy in Paris. He returned to Canada to accept the position of Executive Director of the Conseil Économique du Nouveau-Brunswick; in June 1988, he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Economic Development in Premier Frank McKenna's office.

On November 14, 1988, Mr. Losier was elected MLA in the constituency of Tracadie and was reelected in September 1991.

On June 15, 1989, Mr. Losier was appointed Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. On October 9, 1991, he was appointed Minister of Commerce and Technology and Minister of Tourism, Recreation and Heritage.

Mr. Losier was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Assumption Mutual Life Insurance Company of Moncton on September 1, 1994. Mr. Losier is also Chairman of Assumption Life's subsidiaries and Louisbourg Investments, a company specializing in pension fund management, with assets of more than $1.3 billion under management.

Mr. Losier is a member of boards of well-known public companies such as Canadian National, NAV Canada, Enbridge Gas NB, PlazaCorp Retail Property Ltd., as well as several associations and groups, namely, Atlantic Provinces Economic Council, Conseil économique du N.-B., Beauséjour Regional Health Authority, Fondation Dr-Georges-L.-Dumont, Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, Atlantic Cancer Research Institute as well as chair of its Discoveries Campaign. Mr. Losier was also co-chair of the Université de Moncton Excellence Campaign.

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