No. H089/05
For release April 25, 2005
TRANSPORT MINISTER
ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS TO VIA RAIL
OTTAWA — Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre today announced the appointments of Mr. Michel Crête of Quebec, Quebec, and Mr. Steven M. Cummings of Westmount, Quebec, to the board of directors of VIA Rail Canada Inc.
"I am pleased that Mr. Crête and Mr. Cummings have accepted these new responsibilities with VIA Rail," said Mr. Lapierre. "Each of them brings a wealth of knowledge to the board and I am sure their business experience and expertise will serve the best interests of the corporation."
Mr. Crête obtained a master’s degree in industrial relations from the Université de Montréal in 1968. Upon graduation, he worked for the Montreal School Board. In 1973, he began working as a consultant specializing in negotiation and mediation before accepting the position of associate deputy minister at the Treasury Board Secretariat, where he was responsible for negotiations with the public and parapublic sector. Mr. Crête left the Treasury Board in 1991 to become president and director general of
Loto-Québec. In 2002, he was named deputy minister for the Executive Council Office of the Government of
Quebec. Mr. Crête currently provides consulting services to the Government of Canada.
Mr. Cummings was born in Montreal. He is currently president and chief executive officer of Maxwell Cummings & Sons Holdings Limited. In 2003, he was named to the board of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Mr. Cummings is also active in the community, serving as co-chair of the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy, as past president of the Jewish General Hospital Foundation Centre Board and Federation CJA, as well as working for other community organizations.
VIA Rail Canada Inc., a Crown corporation created in 1977, operates Canada’s national passenger rail service. The board of directors is responsible for the management of the business activities and other affairs of the corporation.
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Contact:
Irène Marcheterre
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister, Ottawa
(613) 991-0700
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