MINT ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER 1999 DISTRIBUTION

MINT is pleased to announce that a distribution of $0.20 per trust unit will be payable on January 28, 2000 to unitholders of record on December 31, 1999. This equates to a 16.0% annualized yield based on the current market price of $5.00.

Unitholders of MINT can acquire additional units by participating in the Distribution Reinvestment Plan. The Plan enables unitholders to reinvest their quarterly distributions in additional units of MINT thereby achieving the benefit of compounding returns. In order to take advantage of the Plan, unitholders should contact their investment advisor or Middlefield.

MINT trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "MID.UN".

For further information, contact Nancy Tham or the undersigned:

Mr. J. Dennis Dunlop
Senior Vice President
(416) 362-0714

December 17, 1999