OTTAWA, February 8, 1999 -- The Government of Canada today launched a national Year 2000 Preparedness Week, February 8-12, to further educate Canadians on the Year 2000 challenge and the importance of millennium-readiness.

The week features activities involving government and the private sector aimed at providing information and guidance to Canadian consumers and businesses. Government and industry will highlight programs designed to assist Canadian companies in their Year 2000 efforts. The week also allows government and industry to inform Canadians about their respective preparedness levels, as well as to highlight Canada's leadership on this issue to the international community.

Industry Minister John Manley is working hard to bolster consumer awareness and encourage private sector millennium-readiness.

"As federal Minister responsible for consumer issues, I am pleased to provide 11 million Canadian households with the Millennium Bug Home Check, a useful guide answering many frequently asked consumer-related Y2K questions," said Minister Manley. "I encourage all recipients to read it carefully and to take the appropriate steps to address Year 2000 matters in their homes. And I continue to impress upon Canadian businesses the importance of taking the necessary action to meet the Year 2000 Challenge."

A Government-Wide Strategy

Minister Manley is one of four ministers designated by the Prime Minister as having special responsibilities for Year 2000 readiness.

The Treasury Board Secretariat is responsible for overall coordination of federal government Year 2000 activities, including monitoring and assessing federal readiness. Minister Marcel MassH recently released the first monthly report on the state of the government's main systems. "The report shows that 84 percent of our mission critical functions essential to the health, safety, security and economic well-being of Canadians were complete," said Minister MassH. "However, our work is far from over, and we will maintain our vigilance to ensure we are as ready as possible."

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lloyd Axworthy, is responsible for the international elements of addressing the Y2K problem.

"We are actively assessing international preparedness for Y2K in an attempt to minimize the risks to Canadians living, travelling or doing business abroad, and to ensure adequate contingency plans are in place. Canadians also rely on an infrastructure system that is closely networked with the United States and internationally integrated business and trade systems. We are working closely with other nations to ensure that disruptions are minimized."

National Defense Minister Art Eggleton is responsible for coordination of the Government's overall contingency planning efforts relating to the Year 2000. These are being conducted by the National Contingency Planning Group, an organization established in October 1998, mandated to coordinate the development of national level contingency plans.

The Canadian Forces are also creating a contingency operational plan called Operation ABACUS, to be utilized should the Forces be called upon to assist federal, provincial and territorial authorities in mitigating the potential impact of the Year 2000 on essential services.

"The contingency planning process, which incorporates federal departments, the provinces and key private sector organizations, is progressing positively," said Minister Eggleton. "Moreover, instructions have been issued to the Canadian Forces to plan to be ready if they are required. Given the potential complexity of the Year 2000 challenge, such planning is simply prudent management."

Canadian businesses can obtain information on government programs to assist in their Year 2000 efforts through the SOS 2000 web-site at http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sos2000 or by phoning 1-800-270-8220. For more information on the federal government's state of readiness, visit www.info2000.gc.ca

For more information, please contact:

Jennifer Sloan: Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Industry (613) 995-9001

Jean Lapierre:Office of the Minister, Treasury Board (613) 957-2666

Debra Brown: Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (613) 995-1851

Randy Mylyk: Office of the Minister of National Defense (613) 996-3100

Doug Drever: Communications Manager, Task Force Year 2000 Secretariat (613) 946-9938

-- Bill (billdale@lakesnet.net), February 09, 1999