[BCMA MBEN] New Federal Minister for Canadian Heritage
Jim Harding
JHarding@MuseumsAssn.bc.ca
Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:31:46 -0700
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt"><b=
>PM Harper Announces Cabinet Shuffle Today</b></span></font></div>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Ac=
cording to the CP, the new Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of
Women and Minister for Official Languages is <b>Josee Verner</b>.</span></=
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Fo=
rmer Minister Bev Oda has moved to Minister of International Co-
operation.</span></font></div>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Th=
e Honourable Josée Verner</span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><a href=3D"http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/pc-ch/min=
/verner/biograph_e.cfm"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt=
"><u>Biography</u></span></font></a></div>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">(f=
rom the Canadian Heritage website)</span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Fo=
rmer Minister of International Co-operation and Minister for La
Francophonie and Official Languages</span></font></div>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Th=
e Honourable Josée Verner</span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Lo=
uis–St-Laurent (Québec)</span></font></div>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Jo=
sée Verner was first elected as a Member of Parliament in January
2006, in the riding of Louis-St-Laurent. On February 6, 2006, she was
appointed Minister of International Co-operation and Minister for La
Francophonie and Official Languages in Prime Minister Harper’s
Cabinet.</span></font></div>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">In=
June 2004, Ms. Verner was named spokesperson for the Economic
Development Agency of Canada for the Region of Quebec in Mr.
Harper’s shadow Cabinet. In September 2005, her portfolio was
expanded to include responsibility for official languages. She also
served as chair of the Quebec caucus of the Conservative Party of
Canada. </span></font></div>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Ms=
. Verner has spent almost 20 years in the communications and
public service fields. She has worked for former Quebec Premier
Robert Bourassa and for the deputy speaker of Quebec’s National
Assembly. She has also worked at the provincial Ministry of Health.</span>=
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Ms=
. Verner is deeply involved in her community and has helped raise
funds for the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada. She is married
and has three children.</span></font></div>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">__=
_____________________________</span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Ji=
m Harding, ED</span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">BC=
Museums Association</span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">(2=
50) 356-5694</span></font></div>
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