QUEBEC JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, December 15, 2006 -- The Honourable Vic Toews, Q.C., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment:

The Honourable Robert Dufresne, a lawyer with the firm of Cain Lamarre Casgrain Wells in Val-d'Or is appointed a Puisne Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec, Districts of Abitibi, Rouyn-Noranda and Témiscamingue. He replaces Mr. Justice I. St-Julien (Val-d'Or) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Robert Dufresne received a Bachelor of Laws in 1987 from the Université de Montréal and a D.E.C. in 1984 from Rosemont College and was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1988. He has practised since 1988 with Cain Lamarre Casgrain Wells and its predecessor firms in Val-d'Or. Mr. Justice Dufresne's practice expertise is in the areas of civil law, municipal law, insurance law, banking law, insolvency and bankruptcy law and litigation. He has been a member of the Executive Committee on Illegal Practice, Barreau du Québec and has held various positions with the Barreau de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue. He is a Past President of the Kinsmen Club of Val-d'Or.

This appointment is effective December 23, 2006.

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Ref.:

Mike Storeshaw
Director of Communications
Minister's Office
613-992-4621