Release date: 
Thursday, May 31, 2001
The Ottawa International Airport Authority announced today the appointment as Chair of Mr. Claude Bennett, as voted unanimously by its local 15 member Board of Directors.

Mr. Claude Bennett said: "I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board and the management team to ensure that Ottawa Airport continues to serve our community well during the construction of the new terminal building and related infrastructure. Until Spring 2004, our principal challenge will be to deliver, on time and on budget, the first class airport our region requires."

Mr. Paul Benoit, President and CEO of Ottawa Airport Authority, said: "I wish to welcome our new Chair, Claude Bennett, who brings a wealth of relevant experience to the position. I also wish to thank our past Chair, Regis Trudel, who remains a Member of the Board, for his valuable contribution over the past years.

Over 3.4 million passengers travelled through Ottawa International Airport in 2000, more than 700,000 above the capacity of the current facility, which was last renovated in 1987. This year, passenger traffic is growing at a pace exceeding 10%.

Ottawa International Airport Authority operates Ottawa Airport without government subsidies under a 60-year lease transfer agreement with Transport Canada. The Authority's mandate is to manage, operate and develop Airport facilities and lands in support of the economic growth of the National Capital Region.

(Please see Claude Bennett's biographical notes, next page.)

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For more information:
Laurent Benoit, (613) 248-2050
Director of Communications and Public Affairs



Biographical notes - Claude Bennett

As a citizen who has worked and raised a family in this community, Claude Bennett has had a long, involved history with the City of Ottawa. His past involvement and dedication to this City's prosperity and quality of life provides him with a tremendous grounding for fulfilling his responsibilities as Chair of the Ottawa Airport Authority.

Claude Bennett has a wealth of experience in both Ottawa's public and private sectors. He has had a long and distinguished political career. He was first elected as a member of Ottawa City Council in 1961 and served as Acting Mayor in 1971. He was also elected to the Ontario Legislature as a Member of the Provincial Parliament for Ottawa South from 1971-1987. During his service at Queen's Park, Claude Bennett held various Ministerial duties including Minister of Industry and Tourism, Minister of Housing, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Chairman to Cabinet. In his 26 years of political life in Ottawa, Claude Bennett was elected a total of 10 times.

Claude Bennett was then named Chairman of the Board for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, a position he served for five years. He has been actively involved in Ottawa's private sector through this past decade and is a senior partner in The Strategies Group, a government relations firm. In 2000, he served as Chairman of the Ottawa Transition Board, which was tasked to oversee the amalgamation of the National Capital's twelve municipal governments and five public utilities, as well as the election of the New City Council.

Claude Bennett has also shown a tremendous commitment to various Boards and Committees in the community. To mention a partial list; he is the President of the Commonwealth Games Foundation of Canada and Vice-President of the Commonwealth Games Association of Canada; Past Chair of the Canada Safety Council; Past Chair and lifetime member of the Central Canada Exhibition Association; Director of the Glebe Centre; a member of the Advisory Committee for the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario; and, a Life Governor at Ashbury College. He has served as Director on the Ottawa Airport Authority since its establishment in 1997.

Claude lives with Deborah, his wife of 25 years. He has two children: Natalie and Winston.