/R E P E A T -- Media invitation - The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal organizes a Strategic Forum on natural resources/

MONTREAL, April 19, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Mr. Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, is pleased to invite media representatives to the Board of Trade's Strategic Forum on natural resources, on Friday, April 20, 2012, at 7 a.m.

In 2011, the announcement of the broad strokes of the Plan Nord revealed that Québec's natural resources would be central to many projects that will create development opportunities for Northern communities and businesses that want to invest in the North. Through its Strategic Forum, the Board of Trade is offering the business community a unique opportunity to discover how the city's economy and expertise can be put at the service of developing our resources and what are the benefits of these major investments for Southern Québec.

This event, which will end with a business luncheon with Québec Premier Jean Charest as guest, will have Clément Gignac, Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife and Minister responsible for the Plan Nord, and Gérald Tremblay, Mayor of Montréal, in attendance. The event will include:

GUEST SPEAKERS:

INTRODUCTION

Welcome
Michel Leblanc, President and CEO, Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal

Introduction
Gérald Tremblay, Mayor of Montréal
Clément Gignac, Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife and Minister responsible for the Plan Nord

Presentation of the findings from the study on the importance of the natural resource industry for the metropolitan area
Michel Leblanc, President and CEO, Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal

HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES INDUSTRY WITHIN THE METROPOLITAN ECONOMY

Panel: Presentation of the current economic base in the metropolitan area and of its key stakes and challenges
Frédéric Chevalier, General Manager, Réseau de la transformation métallique du Québec
Claudine Renauld, General Manager, Minalliance
Jean Simard, President, Association de l'aluminium du Canada
André Tremblay, President and CEO, Conseil de l'industrie forestière du Québec

HEADING A GLOBAL GROUP FROM THE METROPOLIS - THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF HEAD OFFICES OF SCALE IN THE NATURAL RESOURCES INDUSTRY

Jacynthe Côté, CEO, Rio Tinto Alcan
Yves Laflamme, Senior Vice President, Wood Products, Procurement and Information Technology, Resolute Forest Products

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES INDUSTRY - LOCAL STAKES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Challenges, risk management and business opportunities north of the 49^th Parallel
Emilio Imbriglio, Chairman of the Board, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton

The infrastructure needs of the communities involved in Plan Nord
Manon Cyr, Mayor, City of Chibougamau
Christine Brisson, Mayor, City of Baie-Comeau

Development in partnership with the communities
Thierry Vandal, President and CEO, Hydro-Québec
John Paul Murdoch, Partner, Morin Murdoch Archambault Avocats and Legal Advisor, Grand Council of the Crees

THE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES RELATED OT THE NATURAL RESOURCES INDUSTRY

The environmental and energy-related stakes in infrastructure projects
Sophie Brochu, President and CEO, Gaz Métro

The ArcelorMittal expansion - A major project for Quebec as a whole
Alain Cauchon, Vice-President, Operational Excellence and Human Resources, ArcelorMittal

Renard Project - Towards the first ever Quebec diamond mine
Ghislain Poirier, Vice-President, Public Affairs, Stornoway Diamond Corporation

BUSINESS LUNCHEON
Jean Charest, Premier of Québec

AIDE-MÉMOIRE
Date:	Friday, April 20, 2012
What:	Strategic Forum - From 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where:	Palais des congrès de Montréal 1001 place Jean-Paul-Riopelle
Time:	7 a.m. - Registration for media accreditation (Hall Viger - Level 2) 7 a.m. - Buffet breakfast and networking (Room 517C - Level 5) 7:30 a.m. - Beginning of the Forum (Room 517D - Level 5) 12:30 p.m. - Speech by Jean Charest (Room 517AB - Level 5)

The Strategic Forum will be followed by the Salon Plan Nord, from 2 to 5 p.m. and Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (open to the general public).
Media accreditation required.

The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has some 7,000 members. Its primary mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.

RSVP with Sylvie Paquette, Advisor, Media Relations, by phone at 514 871-4000, ext. 4015, or by email at [email protected].