GATINEAU, QUEBEC -- (Marketwire) -- 09/27/12 -- The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, today announced that the Government of Canada has appointed Tom Jenkins as Special Adviser to the Minister to help improve Canada's Defence Procurement process to better support the competitiveness of Canada's defence-related industries.

"Our Government will continue to improve military procurement, in consultation with Canadian industries, so that we can maximize job creation, support Canadian innovation and bolster economic growth across Canada," said Minister Ambrose. "I look forward to working with Mr Jenkins to improve our ability to leverage military procurement in support of Canadian jobs and industry, including innovation and technology development."

As Special Adviser to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Mr. Jenkins will focus on engaging a range of stakeholders involved in Canada's defence-related industries to help develop criteria, and a supporting process to inform the identification of key industrial capabilities.

Mr. Jenkins is the Executive Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer of OpenText Corporation, in Waterloo, Ontario, and chaired the Expert Review Panel on Federal Support for Research and Development. The panel's recommendations helped to inform the Government's Economic Action Plan 2012 commitment to improve its support for innovation in Canada by better focusing its resources to meet private sector needs.

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