Office of the Prime Minister

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 7, 2008) - Four Alberta Members of Parliament will serve as Parliamentary Secretaries in the 40th Parliament of Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today.

"In a time of global economic instability, it is essential that the government's legislative responsibilities are managed consistently and competently," said the Prime Minister. "The four Alberta Members of Parliament we are appointing to serve as Parliamentary Secretaries will provide a stronger voice for their province in Ottawa, while also providing a stronger, more focused government for all Canadians."

The new Alberta Parliamentary Secretary assignments are as follows:

- Laurie Hawn (Edmonton Centre) will serve as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence

- Brian Jean (Fort McMurray-Athabasca) will serve as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

- Ted Menzies (Macleod) will serve as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance

- Deepak Obhrai (Calgary East) will serve as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Biographies available on www.pm.gc.ca