Press Releases

NEWPORT BEACH, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 07/02/09 -- United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has launched a bold, new Form I-9 audit initiative wherein ICE has issued Notices of Inspection (NOIs) to 652 businesses nationwide -- which is more than ICE issued throughout all of 2008. The Notices alert business owners that ICE will be inspecting their hiring records to determine whether or not they are complying with employment eligibility verification (Form I-9) laws and regulations. Inspections are one of the most powerful tools the federal government has to enforce employment and immigration laws. This new initiative illustrates ICE's increased focus on holding employers accountable for their hiring practices and efforts to ensure legal workforces.

"ICE is committed to establishing a meaningful Form I-9 inspection program to promote compliance with the law. This nationwide effort is a first step in ICE's long-term strategy to address and deter illegal employment," said Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE, John Morton.

Employers are required to complete and retain a Form I-9 for each individual they hire for employment in the United States. This Form requires employers to review and record, in a timely fashion, the individual's identity and work eligibility document(s) and determine whether the document(s) reasonably appear to be genuine and relate to the individual.

The 652 businesses being presented with a NOI for formal Form I-9 audits have been selected for inspection as a result of leads and information obtained through other investigative means. Due to the ongoing law enforcement sensitive nature of these audits, all of the names and locations of the businesses were not released at this time.

In April, ICE implemented a new, comprehensive strategy to reduce the demand for illegal employment and protect employment opportunities for the nation's lawful workforce. Under this strategy, ICE is focusing its resources on the auditing and investigation of employers suspected of cultivating illegal workplaces by knowingly employing illegal workers. The nationwide initiative being launched is a direct result of this new strategy.

The Issues

These official federal Form I-9 audits are certain to cause concern among employers who have complained that identifying illegal workers is fraught with problems, from recognizing fraudulent identity documents to the risk of violating anti-discrimination laws. Form I-9 audits uncover a range of issues from I-9 paperwork violations to administrative violations, to violations that result in severe criminal charges. Depending on what is discovered by these federal investigations, employers will face various punishments such as fines, prohibition from federal contracting to criminal prosecution. Employees also could be charged with identity theft or document fraud.

EMPLOYERS NEED A SOLUTION IMMEDIATELY.

The Solution: Form I-9 Compliance's 3 STEP PROCESS

Form I-9 Compliance, LLC, the first federally approved Designated Agent of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) for web-based employment verification through the E-Verify Program, offers employers their "3 STEP" RISK ANALYSIS AND REMEDIATION PROCESS to proactively address overall compliance with the Form I-9 processes and procedures:

STEP 1: SSN "No Match" Protocols - Automated submission of employer payroll records to the Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS) to identify employees with "No Match" problems. (This process is conducted for payroll purposes only);

STEP 2: Form I-9 Vulnerability Assessment Audits - Form I-9 Audits proactively conducted by Form I-9 Compliance, help to ensure full compliance with the requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) and its subsequent amendments;

STEP 3: Scanning and Indexing of Form I-9s - Once the I-9 Forms have been audited by our senior auditing staff, the employer legally makes the appropriate changes and the corrected I-9's are scanned into an electronic database to create a completely paperless Form I-9 database.

These advances, coupled with Form I-9 Compliance's already highly technologically advanced and secure web-based electronic error-detecting Form I-9, and the most user friendly direct interface with the E-Verify Program, provide employers with an unparalleled I-9 Management Solution for all of their needs for legally defensible Form I-9 administration and proactive Social Security "No Match" protocols. In addition, as employers are increasingly aware, the creeping scope of Sarbanes-Oxley has created a need to be compliant in all legal arenas and places a new focus on the proper administration of Form I-9 processes and procedures.

"With the leveraging of technology for these three services, Form I-9 Compliance has created the most user friendly, cost effective and comprehensive I-9 Management Solution for employers to adopt 'Best Practices' protocols for all of their Form I-9 administration needs," said John M. Hermann, Chief Executive Officer of Form I-9 Compliance. "This unique application of technology in all of our service offerings is not duplicated by any other provider," added Mr. Hermann. "We are now able to clearly demonstrate to any employer that an investment in our I-9 Management Solution will lead to a significant return to the employer in terms of increased cost efficiencies and significantly reduced vulnerabilities to potential fines and negative publicity."

Commenting on the "Human Element" in Form I-9 Compliance's suite of services, Mr. Hermann stated that "in addition to the latest industry leading technology applications announced today, we have assembled a highly qualified and knowledgeable staff of in-house senior auditors. Each of these individuals has more than 20 years of Form I-9 auditing experience. They are available to conduct on-site or off-site Vulnerability Assessment Audits, make recommendations for correcting flawed I-9 Forms prior to scanning and indexing, and to conduct focused training in proper Form I-9 administration. This nation-wide cadre of senior auditors gives Form I-9 Compliance a significant edge over any other single provider in terms of its web-based technology applications and its auditing capabilities."

Mr. Hermann continued his remarks by saying, "Proactive employers who want to legitimately and objectively assess their 'legal exposure' as far as Form I-9 compliance is concerned, and simultaneously understand the degree of exposure with which their organization is confronted, should seriously consider placing their organization in a proactive position by utilizing our electronic applications. It will be tragic to watch the frenzied reactions of those employers who ultimately discover that 25%-35% of their workforce are blatantly illegal and there is no plan in place to backfill these employees. Now, employers can use the technology created by Form I-9 Compliance as an accurate and timely 'early warning system.'"

Contact:
Thomas Brechtel
Executive Vice President
949-640-4949
E-mail- Email Contact
Web Site- www.formi9compliance.com

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 2, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Silverado Gold Mines Ltd (OTCBB: SLGLF) (Frankfurt: SLGL) (www.silverado.com) (the "Company" or "Silverado") appointed Donald Balletto as its new chief financial officer, effective June 25, 2009. Balletto, who recently joined the Company's board of directors, will now play a key role on Silverado's executive team.

"We are extremely pleased to welcome Don to Silverado's management team. His years of experience as an accountant and accounting manager will be well drawn upon," said Garry Anselmo, who is resigning from his CFO post to make way for Balletto. Anselmo will continue as Chairman of the Board of Directors, CEO, COO and President.

Silverado made no other organizational or reporting structure changes in conjunction with this announcement.

About the Company

Silverado Gold Mines Ltd, a publicly traded company, is an exploration-stage enterprise focused on the exploration of gold properties with some past production. The Company has gold properties located throughout Alaska, which include a 100 percent (%) interest in numerous mining claims located on the Nolan Creek property. The Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Silverado Green Fuel Inc, is involved with a new environmentally friendly low-rank coal water fuel technology. The fuel is designed to be produced from low-rank coal and processed into an environmentally friendly oil substitute. For more information about Silverado Gold Mines Ltd or Silverado Green Fuel Inc, please visit www.silverado.com and www.silveradogreenfuel.com, respectively.

CONTACT:  Silverado Gold Mines Ltd
          Investor Relations
          (604) 689-1535
          ir@silverado.com
          www.silverado.com
          1820-1111 West Georgia Street
          Vancouver, BC V6E 4M3

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - July 2, 2009) - Tree Island Wire Income Fund (the "Fund") (TSX: TIL.UN) today announced that it has completed the sale of 12.5 acres of surplus lands at its Richmond, B.C. manufacturing facility for net proceeds of $8.6 million. The Fund intends to use available proceeds from the sale to reduce debt under the GE credit facility.

About the Fund

The Fund was launched on November 12, 2002, with the completion of an Initial Public Offering. There are 22,000,850 units of the Fund outstanding, representing a 100% ownership interest in Tree Island.

The Fund's performance depends entirely on the performance of Tree Island.

About Tree Island Industries

Headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, Tree Island Industries produces wire products for a diverse range of construction, agricultural, manufacturing and industrial applications. Its products include bright wire, stainless steel wire and galvanized wire; a broad array of fasteners, including packaged, collated and bulk nails; stucco reinforcing products, engineered structural mesh, fencing and other fabricated wire products. The company markets these products under the Tree Island, TI Imports and HK Universe brand names. Tree Island also owns and operates a Hong Kong-based trading company that provides internationally sourced products to Tree Island and its customers worldwide.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
        Tree Island Industries Ltd.
        Brian Irving
        Chief Financial Officer
        (604) 523-4516
        birving@treeisland.com
        www.treeisland.com

Source: Tree Island Wire Income Fund

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - July 2, 2009) - This document corrects and replaces the advisory sent earlier today at 4:56 PM EDT.

The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport), and Mrs. Laureen Harper will officially open the Canada Pavilion at the Calgary Stampede tomorrow. Minister of State Lunn will speak about the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Participants will include Canadian athletes Vaughn Chipeur (figure skater), Brad Spence (alpine skier), and Nathaniel Miller (water-polo athlete), as well as 2010 torchbearers Adriano Fisico and Courtney Ferguson from the Calgary area.

This advisory is subject to change without notice.

The details are as follows:



Date:    Friday, July 3

Time:    1:00 p.m.

Place:   Calgary Stampede
         BMO Centre (Roundup Centre)
         Hall A, Stampede Park
         Booth 1305
         Calgary, Alberta


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
        Office of the Honourable Gary Lunn, P.C., M.P.
        Minister of State (Sport)
        Michelle Yao
        Press Secretary
        819-934-1131

Source: Canadian Heritage

CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 07/02/09 -- Viterra Inc. (TSX: VT) and ABB Grain (ASX: ABB) are pleased to announce program changes and enhancements designed to reduce weather related exposure in the Australian marketplace, subject to implementation of the scheme of arrangement previously announced by Viterra and ABB Grain, which remains subject to shareholder, court and regulatory approvals and other conditions. The changes include the introduction of grain volume insurance and the removal of the volume variation fee.

Viterra has entered into a grain volume insurance program to insure the combined company against lower than expected grain production in South Australia. This new program will allow ABB to make changes to its storage and handling charges for the benefit of Australian growers if the scheme of arrangement is implemented. Viterra has had grain volume insurance in place as part of a comprehensive risk management strategy since 2005.

The insurance program will allow the combined operation to eliminate the ABB grain volume variation charge in South Australia, removing grower exposure to the charge during difficult crop years. ABB Grain previously investigated grain volume insurance and concluded it was not, at the time, economical to obtain such coverage on a stand alone basis.

The two companies have also reviewed ABB's storage and handling charges in an effort to simplify the disclosure to ensure that it is in a strong position to actively compete for growers business on a daily basis. More details on the revised fee structure will be provided once the integration of the two companies has commenced.

The insurance coverage, contingent upon the successful combination of ABB and Viterra, will reduce the financial impact on ABB Grain should adverse weather conditions impact grain receivals in the future. The program would begin to pay out in the event of approximately a 33% drop in average annual South Australian grain production levels and would fully pay out in the event of a 65% drop in production. The maximum payout under the program is $27 million Australian.

Viterra's President and Chief Executive Officer, Mayo Schmidt says, "Viterra's ability to extend its Canadian grain volume insurance program to include the operations of ABB Grain is a creative solution that reduces the risk profile of the combined company. It illustrates the kind of benefits and innovation that we can bring to the table collectively, working together to bring value to the business, its growers, shareholders and destination customers".

ABB's Managing Director, Michael Iwaniw said, "the combined company will be in a position to respond proactively to growers in advance of this year's harvest. Feedback from growers prompted us to examine our storage and handling charges. ABB has investigated the provision of crop insurance in the past but concluded it was not viable on a stand alone basis. If the combination of ABB and Viterra proceeds, and based on the financial strength of the combined company, the company will be able to put in place a program that addresses the needs of growers. These enhancements will position the combined company competitively in both the Australian and global marketplace and will allow the company to increase the demand for Australian production around the world."

About Viterra

Viterra Inc. is Canada's leading agribusiness, with extensive operations and distribution capabilities across Western Canada, and with operations in the United States, Japan, Singapore and Geneva. The Company is diversified into sales and services of crop inputs and equipment, grain handling and marketing, livestock feed, agri-food processing and financial products. These operations are complemented by value-added businesses and strategic alliances, which allow Viterra to leverage its pivotal position between Prairie farmers and destination customers. The Company's common shares are listed on the TSX under the symbol VT.

About ABB

ABB Grain Ltd. is a leading Australian agribusiness with a multi-faceted operation and international focus. ABB's diversified operations stretch across the entire supply chain. The company's core business divisions include national supply chain, grain marketing, malt and rural services. ABB employs 1100 staff across its divisions throughout Australia and its international operations.

Interested parties are invited to visit www.abbgrain.co or www.abbgrainplusviterra.ca.

Contacts:
Viterra Inc.
Peter Flengeris
Media contact
(306) 569-4810

ABB Grain
Kenn Pearce
Media Manager
08 8304 5105