TORONTO, July 13 /CNW/ - Canadian Tire reinforced its commitment to
providing the most secure and convenient payment options for its customers
when it announced, today, the completion of the rollout of new point-of-sale
terminals in Canadian Tire Retail stores across the country. With the rollout
now complete, Canadian Tire is the largest retailer in the country to complete
a national rollout, ensuring that the 475 stores in its network are chip card
compatible.
    The most secure payment option in the credit card industry, chip card
technology uses a small computer processor chip with memory, logic and a
configuration of software applications, significantly enhancing security. The
chip holds information in an encrypted form and requires the use of a PIN
(personal identification number) to complete the payment process. Working
closely with MasterCard Canada and Moneris Solutions Corporation ("Moneris"),
Canadian Tire is the first Canadian retailer to rollout chip compatible
point-of-sale terminals across the country.
    "Canadian Tire Financial Services continues to be focused on safeguarding
the security and enhancing the trust of our customers," said Jim Kozack, vice
president, Canadian Tire Financial Services. "After successfully testing
chip-enabled Canadian Tire Options MasterCard credit cards in the Kitchener
market, we decided to roll-out the chip card payment platform nationally and
later this year will begin rollout of our new MasterCard chip cards across the
country."
    David Ades, senior vice-president at Moneris Solutions said, "We help
businesses like Canadian Tire by providing world-class payment solutions and
we are extremely pleased to have Canadian Tire as our first integrated chip
card merchant. The early adoption of chip card technology by a leading
Canadian retailer paves the roads for other merchants in their transition to
the new and more secure technology."
    "MasterCard Canada congratulates Canadian Tire on its pioneering
achievement as Canada migrates to chip," said Oliver Manahan, vice president
Advanced Payments, MasterCard Canada. "Clearly, Canadian Tire saw the benefit
chip would bring to their operations, and vigorously executed to realize their
vision."

    About Canadian Tire

    Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSX: CTC, CTC.a), operates an
inter-related network of businesses engaged in retail, financial services and
petroleum. The Company operates more than 1,200 stores, gas bars and car
washes, including the country's most-shopped general merchandise retailer.
Canadian Tire Financial Services manages approximately 5.0 million Canadian
Tire MasterCard accounts and markets related financial products and services
for retail and petroleum customers. More than 57,000 Canadians work across
Canadian Tire's organization from coast-to-coast in the enterprise's retail,
financial services, and petroleum businesses.

    About MasterCard Worldwide

    MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical
economic link among financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and
merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard
develops and markets payment solutions, processes approximately 21 billion
transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting
services to financial-institution customers and merchants. Powered by the
MasterCard Worldwide Network and through its family of brands, including
MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus®, MasterCard serves consumers and
businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information go
to www.mastercard.com.

    About Moneris Solutions Corporation

    As one of North America's largest providers of payment processing
solutions, Moneris offers credit, debit, wireless and online payment services
for merchants in virtually every industry segment. Through its Ernex division,
Moneris also provides electronic loyalty and stored-value card programs. With
more than 350,000 merchant locations generating close to three billion payment
card transactions annually, Moneris provides the hardware, software and
systems needed to improve business efficiency and manage payments. For more
information please visit www.moneris.com.