The Honourable James S. Edwards Reappointed Member of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 9, 2011) - The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), today announced the reappointment of the Honourable James S. Edwards to the Council.

"NSERC continues to be a leader in the support of discovery sciences through its funding of university-based research that benefits all Canadians," said Minister Clement. "I am pleased that Mr. Edwards is returning to the Council, and I am confident that his wealth of experience will continue to add to its success."

Mr. Edwards is a former broadcaster, business executive and parliamentarian. He spent 29 years in the Canadian broadcasting industry and established Edmonton's first FM radio station in 1964. He served as Member of Parliament for Edmonton Southwest for nine years and was President of the Treasury Board in 1993.

From 1998 to 2002, Mr. Edwards was President and Chief Executive Officer of Economic Development Edmonton. He then served as Chair of the Board of Governors of the University of Alberta until 2006. During that time, he was also Trustee of the Alberta Ingenuity Fund. Mr. Edwards received an honorary LL.D. from the University of Alberta in 2006.

NSERC is a federal agency that helps make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians. The Agency supports some 30,000 post-secondary students and post-doctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding more than 12,000 professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 1,500 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects. For more information, visit the NSERC website (www.nserc.ca).