NOTE TO EDITORS:

Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and Minister responsible for the Rural Secretariat, will hold a news conference in Stephenville today (Monday, December 19) at 11:30 a.m. to release details of a task force established to address the impacts of the Abitibi mill closure. The news conference will be held at the College of the North Atlantic lecture theatre.

Minister Dunderdale will be joined by Natural Resources Minister Ed Byrne; Municipal Affairs Minister Jack Byrne; Human Resources, Labour and Employment Minister Paul Shelley; Education Minister and St. George�s-Stephenville East MHA Joan Burke; and Port au Port MHA Jim Hodder.

Media representatives are invited to attend.

Media contact: Lynn Evans, Communications, (709) 729-4570, 690-6290

2005 12 19                                      8:30 a.m.