Former Quebec Premier joins TransForce Board of Trustees

MONTREAL — As a one-time leader of the Parti Québécois and Premier of Quebec, Lucien Bouchard’s mandate revolved around separatism. Now, he’ll work with a trucking company that is the embodiment of consolidation.

TransForce Income Fund, the holder of Canada’s largest for-hire trucking fleet, has announced that Bouchard has been named to the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

Bouchard is a partner in the law firm of Davies Ward Phillips and Vineberg LLP where he practices corporate and commercial law, is a negotiator and mediator for significant commercial and labor disputes, and advises large corporations on strategy and policy.

He was Premier of Quebec from 1996 to 2001. Before that, he served in the Federal Cabinet and was Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons.

In addition to his law practice, Mr. Bouchard is chairman of the Board of Directors of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, management committee member of Jeunesses Musicales du Canada, member of the Boards of directors of Groupe Saputo Inc., Transcontinental Inc., Centre d’études et de recherches internationales de l’Université de Montréal and BMTC Group Inc.

“Lucien Bouchard’s experience, expertise and insights are sure to be valuable to the Board and to the unitholders of the Fund,” said Alain Bédard, chairman,
president and CEO of TransForce.

Bouchard will chair TransForce’s Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, which also includes Bérard.

TransForce became grew to become Canada’s largest trucking company almost exclusively through acquisition. Its fleet of trucking companies currently includes over 5,000 trucks and 12,000 trailers.

It has been buying several trucking companies, annually, all over Canada, concentrating most recently on western and Quebec markets.

Last month it bought the Thibodeau Group — the fifth largest trucking company in Quebec — with about 430 power units and over 1100 trailers.