No. H 006/07
For release January 26, 2007
APPOINTMENTS TO VIA RAIL CANADA INC.
OTTAWA - The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, today announced the appointments of Mr. David Hoff and Mr. Eric Stefanson to the board of directors of VIA Rail Canada Inc.
"I am pleased that Mr. Hoff and Mr. Stefanson have agreed to serve on the
board of VIA Rail Canada Inc.," said Minister Cannon. "In 2005, VIA Rail carried
more than four million passengers across the country, and continues to provide a
vital service to link our communities. These new appointees will contribute
their experience in business management, finance and law."
Mr. David Hoff is a senior corporate affairs director who has 20 years of
experience in public, media and government affairs. He holds a bachelor of
science degree from the University of Calgary and currently serves as senior
director, provincial government relations, Western Canada for Bell Canada. From
1996 to 2002, Mr. Hoff served as CIBC's regional director, corporate
communications and public affairs for British Columbia, then Western Canada. As
senior consultant for GPC Government Policy Consultants in Victoria, British
Columbia, Mr. Hoff provided strategic communications and government relations
advice to corporations such as CN Rail, IBM, Sprint and the Red Cross. He has
also held the post of executive assistant to the President of the Treasury
Board, from May 1993 until March 1994, and worked in the Department of Foreign
Affairs from 1987 to 1993. He has been appointed for three years.
Mr. Eric Stefanson FCA is the managing partner for the Central Canada Region
for BDO Dunwoody LLP Chartered Accountants and Advisors. He received a bachelor
of arts degree from the University of Manitoba in 1971 and earned the
designation of chartered accountant in 1975. He also received his Fellow of the
Chartered Accountants in 1991. From 1978 to 1990, Mr. Stefanson was a partner in
Stefanson and Lee, a Manitoba-based chartered accountancy firm. In 1982, Mr.
Sefanson began a very successful career representing the Manitoba community by
serving as a Winnipeg city councillor (1982 to 1989) as well as serving as
deputy Mayor (1986 to 1988). From 1990 to 2000, he served as a Member of the
Legislative Assembly for the province of Manitoba. During that time, Mr.
Stefanson served in many capacities including the Minister of Health and Deputy
Premier. He also served as the Minister of Finance, Minister charged with the
administration of the Crown corporations Public Review and Accountability Act,
chair of Treasury Board, and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism. In
1999, Mr. Stefanson joined the Assante family of companies, serving initially as
the chief operating officer of Assante Asset Management and subsequently as the
chief financial officer and managing director, finance and planning, of Assante
Canada. In August 2000, Mr. Stefanson received the Icelandic Order of the Falcon
from the President of Iceland. Mr. Stefanson has been appointed for a period of
four years.
VIA Rail Canada Inc., a Crown corporation created in 1977, operates Canada's
national passenger rail service. The board of directors is responsible for
overseeing the business activities and other affairs of the corporation.
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Contact:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
(613) 991-0700
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