NOTE TO EDITORS: Final land claims agreement to be initialled, August 29, St. John�s

Representatives of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Canada and the Labrador Inuit Association will gather in the The Fairmont Newfoundland in St. John�s on Friday, August 29 to initial the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement.

Advance copies of the agreement highlights and other background material will be available to media representatives (identification required) between 2:15 and 2:45 p.m. Negotiators from the three parties will be available to answer questions during that time.

The official initialling ceremony will take place at 2:45 p.m., followed by a news conference at 3:00 p.m. Representing the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will be Roger Grimes, Premier; and Wally Andersen, Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs. Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Newfoundland and Labrador�s representative in the federal cabinet, will represent the Government of Canada, while Labrador Inuit Association president William Andersen III will represent the Labrador Inuit.

The events will take place at the Garrison/Signal Rooms.

Media contact:

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Catherina Kennedy, Office of the Premier
(709) 729-3960

Bert Pomeroy, Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
(709) 896-8668

Labrador Inuit Association

Winston White
(709) 897-7182

June Perry
(709) 753-0794

Government of Canada

Diane Laursen, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
(819) 994-2044

2003 08 28                                       1:05 p.m.