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February 28, 2006


Confederation Bridge Gift Card Program
Spans the Payment Divide

Ernex powered stored-value cards not only for Retailers or Restaurants

VANCOUVER, February 28, 2006 - Strait Crossing Bridge Limited (SCBL), the operator of the 12.9 km long Confederation Bridge that links Prince Edward Island to the rest of Canada, has just launched a new stored-value gift card program. The gift cards are accepted at the toll-plaza and can be used by customers to pay for their toll when crossing the bridge. Ernex, a division of Moneris Solutions Corporation and an industry leader in real-time loyalty and stored-value gift card programs, provided the technology for the gift card solution.

"We are excited to give our customers another way to pay for their crossing over to Prince Edward Island," said Marsha Metcalfe, Director of Marketing for the Confederation Bridge. "We are working to get partners in the area to carry the cards so customers have several locations where the cards can be purchased." Cards are currently available for purchase at the office at 43 Queen St, Charlottetown, MacArthur's PetroCan, Richmond & Summerside MacArthur's Esso, Summerside and Borden Esso.

The Confederation Bridge is also using the cards as a promotional tool, having recently issued over 500 cards for visitors that have purchased hotel packages to the Jack Frost Children's Winterfest, which is the largest winter festival east of Quebec City. The cards are an ideal promotional tool for hotels, golf courses or any organization that wants to create a package for tourists coming to PEI, but that are worried that the toll might be a hindrance to attracting those customers. By loading the gift card with the value of a full toll, merchants can eliminate customer's concerns about additional costs for their package.

"With this program launch by the Confederation Bridge, I think you are starting to see people realizing that stored-value programs, or gift cards, are not just for retailers and restaurants," said Malcolm Fowler, Vice President & General Manager of Ernex. Stored-value gift cards are ideal for use as payment in situations where customers use a business frequently. Not only does this build loyalty between the customer and the business, but it reduces the transaction costs for the merchant.

The gift cards are activated and processed through an integrated debit/credit/gift card processing solution from Moneris Solutions Corporation.

About Confederation Bridge
In 1987, the Government of Canada issued a proposal call challenging the private sector to devise an environmentally, technically and financially sound alternative to the ferry system that existed at the time between Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. After an extensive process, Strait Crossing Development Inc. was named as the Developer charged with designing, building, financing and operating the Confederation Bridge. The 12.9 km structure was completed in May 1997 and carries two lanes of traffic. Its subsidiary company, Strait Crossing Bridge Limited (SCBL), privately manages, maintains and operates the bridge until 2032, after which time such operations will be transferred to the Government of Canada. For more information, please visit www.confederationbridge.com.

About Ernex
Ernex, a division of Moneris Solutions Corporation, is a provider of innovative real-time marketing solutions including privately branded and multi-merchant loyalty programs, stored-value gift cards, reward fulfillment services and loyalty database hosting services. Leading companies in the financial, retail, restaurant and hospitality industries as well as large membership organizations use Ernex solutions. For more information, contact Ernex at 877-GO-ERNEX or visit www.ernex.com.

About Moneris Solutions Corporation
As Canada's largest provider of payment processing solutions for merchants, Moneris offers credit and debit card payment services for virtually every industry segment. Through its Ernex division, Moneris offers leading-edge electronic loyalty and gift card programs. With more than 350,000 merchant locations, Moneris works with a range of business partners to provide the hardware, software and systems needed to improve business efficiency and manage point-of-sale information. Moneris employs over 1,100 people at its head office in Toronto as well as at offices in Chicago, Montréal, Vancouver and Sackville. For more information please visit www.moneris.com.

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For more information, contact:
Steve Bestvater
Marketing Manager
Ernex, a division of Moneris Solutions Corporation
P: 204.256.3866
pr@ernex.com
Marsha Metcalfe
Director of Marketing & Community Affairs
Straight Crossing Bridge Limited
P: 902.367.3679
marsham@scbl.net


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