No. H027/04 For release May 5, 2004 OTTAWA - Transport Minister Tony Valeri today announced the appointment of Mr. James W. Orr of Saint John, New Brunswick to the board of directors of the Saint John Port Authority. "Mr. Orr's many years of service in the marine sector in New Brunswick will serve him well as he takes up his duties on the board of directors of the port authority," said Mr. Valeri. "I am pleased that he has agreed to take on this responsibility." Mr. Orr, who retired in 2001, served more than 35 years with Port Stevedore Companies & Terminal Operators as a steamship checker and longshoreman. From 1952 until 1965, he worked as a night shift supervisor with the Canadian Pacific Railway. Mr. Orr served in the Royal Canadian Navy from February 1954 until August 1955. Mr. Orr also attended the Atlantic Region Labour Education Centre and St. Francis Xavier University. He has held various positions in trade unions, ranging from executive board member to president. The Saint John Port Authority is the Canada Port Authority (CPA) established to manage the Port of Saint John under the Canada Marine Act. As a CPA, the Saint John Port Authority benefits from greater management flexibility, including increased freedom to develop contracts and borrow money from commercial lenders. The Port of Saint John handles about 20 million tonnes of cargo annually. Its facilities handle all kinds of ships, including bulk carriers, roll-on/roll-off vessels, forest products carriers, container ships, tankers and conventional cargo vessels. In 2002, the port welcomed 39 cruise ships carrying more than 71,000 passengers. - 30 - Contact: Christina Van Loon Office of the Minister, Ottawa (613) 991-0700 Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.
