definiens: has the meaning ascribed thereto in section6.1(a ) ; has the meaning ascribed thereto in section6.1(a ) ; means the earliest to occur of the closing date ofthe Offering or March 31, 2001, or such later date as may be agreed to by theparties hereto in writing ; means, collectively, the applicable securities laws of each ofthe provinces of Canada and the respective regulations made thereunder togetherwith all applicable published policy statements, blanket orders and rulings ofthe securities regulatory authorities in such provinces ; means that certain shareholders ' agreement of theCorporation dated as of January 4, 1996, as amended, a copy of which is attachedhereto as Schedule ; has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Canada BusinessCorporations Act ; means 2:00 p.m. ( Montreal time ) on the First Equity ClosingDate or the Second Equity Closing Date, as the case may be ;