NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR SENIOR GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRAT

For the third year in a row, Judy Samuelson, Cabinet Secretary and Clerk of the Executive Council, is being recognized with a national award as one of Canada's top 100 most powerful women.

The award recipients will gather from across the country at a Summit and Awards Luncheon today in Toronto. The award was developed in 2003 under the leadership of the Women's Executive Network (WXN), Canada's leading association of women executives, and the Richard Ivey School of Business, at the University of Western Ontario, a global leader in business management education.

Samuelson is being honoured in the category of Public Sector Leaders, women who currently occupy the most senior position in a government department, ministry, university, municipality, hospital or regional health authority. Other award categories include Trailblazers, Future Leaders, Entrepreneurs and Professionals. An independent advisory board submits nominations in the categories of Public Sector Leaders, Entrepreneurs and Corporate Executives, based on defined, measurable criteria. Other categories are open for public nomination.

"Judy is an example of the strength, commitment and dedication of the Saskatchewan public service," Premier Lorne Calvert said. "She has given over 30 years of service to government and the political process, and is well known for her professionalism as well as her work in mentoring young people and educating international governments in the area of government processes and decision-making. Judy is an exceptional leader and role model, and it is fitting that she is being recognized as one of Canada's top 100 most powerful women."

Among her other achievements, Samuelson was named by the Saskatchewan business magazine SASKBUSINESS as one of the Top 10 Women of Influence in 2003. She is the longest serving official in the Cabinet Room in the history of the province, having served as Assistant Chief of Staff and then Chief of Staff to former Premier Roy Romanow from 1993 – 2001, and as Cabinet Secretary since 2001.

Past recipients of the award include such notable individuals as former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, astronaut Roberta Bondar, Chief Justice of Canada Beverley McLachlin, BMO Chief Economist Sherry Cooper, Canadian Counsel General to New York and former journalist Pamela Wallin, British Columbia Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnolo, former President and CEO of Shell Canada Linda Cook and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour.

For more information on Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100, visit the website at www.wxnetwork.com.

-30-

For More Information, Contact:

Marie Trafford Media Services Regina Phone: (306) 787-0963