News Release

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

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PM names G-20 and G-8 Sherpas

October 1, 2010
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today named Louis Lévesque, Deputy Minister of International Trade, Canada's G-20 Sherpa, and Gérald Cossette, Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada's G-8 Sherpa.

Mr. Lévesque was appointed Deputy Minister of International Trade on December 15, 2008. He previously served as Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Privy Council Office and as Associate Deputy Minister with Finance Canada. Mr. Cossette was appointed Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs on June 1, 2009. He previously served as Assistant Deputy Minister, Summits Management Office, and Chief Executive Officer, Passport Canada, at Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.

Mr. Lévesque and Mr. Cossette replace Leonard Edwards, who was the G-8 and G-20 Sherpa during Canada's highly successful hosting of the 2010 G-8 and G-20 summits in Muskoka and Toronto. These summits presented an invaluable opportunity for Canada to exercise its leadership on the world stage and its commitment to international economic cooperation, development and peace and security.

Sherpas are the personal representatives of G-20 and G-8 leaders and lead the preparatory processes that plan the agendas for their leaders. The next G-20 summit takes place in Seoul, Korea, in November 2010 and the next G-8 summit will take place in Nice, France, in 2011.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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