VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Jun 02 (MARKET WIRE) —
Canadian Zinc Corporation (TSX: CZN)(OTCBB: CZICF) (the
“Company” or “Canadian Zinc”) is pleased to report
that the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board has
determined that the Company’s Developer’s Assessment Report is in
conformity with the Terms of Reference and that the environmental
assessment of the Prairie Creek Mine can now proceed to the next phase.

Prairie Creek Mine Environmental Assessment

In March 2010, the Company submitted its Developer’s Assessment Report
(“DAR”) to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review
Board (“Review Board”) as part of the Prairie Creek Mine
Environmental Assessment (“EA”) process. The DAR is a
comprehensive report compiled by the Company and its consultants
incorporating detailed mine site studies relating to specific aspects of
the proposed operation, as required by the Terms of Reference issued by
the Review Board in June 2009.

Canadian Zinc also submitted an Addendum to the DAR on May 20, 2010 to
provide further information on selected aspects of the proposed operation
requested by the Review Board.

On May 28, 2010, the Review Board determined that the DAR is now in
conformity with the Terms of Reference and that the environmental
assessment of the Prairie Creek Mine can proceed to the next analytical
stage.

Work Plan and Timetable

An updated Work Plan for the next stage of the environmental assessment
has now been issued by the Review Board. The Work Plan outlines the
proposed schedule for the EA and includes information requests, possible
technical sessions and public hearings.

As described in the updated Work Plan, the next milestone in the
analytical phase of the EA is the opportunity for participants to submit
information requests. The purpose of an information request is to seek
clarification on specific aspects of the Prairie Creek project to better
understand and assess any environmental impacts of the project.

The Work Plan timetable indicates completion of review and hearings by
year-end and a decision from the Review Board by March 2011.

A complete copy of the documents relating to the Prairie Creek Mine
Environmental Assessment is available for inspection on the Review Board
website at http://www.reviewboard.ca/registry/ (reference Canadian Zinc
Corporation EA0809-002).

Appointment of Chief Financial Officer and Grant of Options

Canadian Zinc is pleased to announce the appointment of Carlos Escribano
CGA as Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

Mr. Escribano, who will be based in Vancouver, is a Certified General
Accountant of British Columbia and has previously been employed by a
number of mineral resource companies where he has held progressive
accounting and financial positions. He has been granted employee stock
options on 300,000 shares, vesting over two years, exercisable at $0.45
per share for five years.

The Prairie Creek Mine:

Canadian Zinc’s principal focus is to advance the Prairie Creek Mine, a
zinc/lead/silver property located in the Northwest Territories of Canada,
towards production. The Prairie Creek Property hosts total Measured and
Indicated Resources of 5,840,329 tonnes grading 10.71% zinc, 9.90% lead,
0.326% copper, and 161.12 grams silver per tonne, a large Inferred
Resource of 5,541,576 tonnes grading 13.53% zinc, 11.43% lead, 0.514%
copper and 215 grams silver per tonne and additional exploration
potential. The Mine is partially developed with an existing 1,000 tonne
per day mill and related infrastructure.

In May 2008, the Company applied to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water
Board (“MVLWB”) for a Type “A” Water Licence and
three Type “A” Land Use Permits (“LUPs”); one for the
operation of the Prairie Creek Mine and the other two for Transfer
Facilities along the road which connects the mine to the Liard Highway. A
detailed Project Description Report (“PDR”) was filed with the
MVLWB as part of the permit applications.

The proposed development and operation of the Prairie Creek Mine Project
is currently undergoing Environmental Assessment by the Mackenzie Valley
Environmental Impact Review Board. When in production the Mine will
create employment for about 225 people and business opportunities for the
local communities in the Dehcho region of the Northwest Territories.

Cautionary Statement – Forward Looking Information

This press release contains certain forward-looking information. This
forward looking information includes, or may be based upon, estimates,
forecasts, and statements as to management’s expectations with respect
to, among other things, the issue of permits, the size and quality of the
company’s mineral resources, future trends for the company, progress in
development of mineral properties, future production and sales volumes of
VGM, capital costs, mine production costs, demand and market outlook for
metals, future metal prices and treatment and refining charges, the
timing of exploration, development and mining activities and the
financial results of the company. There can be no assurances that such
statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events
could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The
Company does not currently hold a permit for the operation of the Prairie
Creek Mine. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have
demonstrated economic viability. Inferred mineral resources are
considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations
applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral
reserves. There is no certainty that mineral resources will be converted
into mineral reserves.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
permits U.S. mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose
only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally
extract or produce. We use certain terms in this press release, such as
“measured,” “indicated,” and “inferred”
“resources,” which the SEC guidelines prohibit U.S. registered
companies from including in their filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors
are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F which may
be secured from us, or from the SEC’s website at

http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

Contacts:
Canadian Zinc Corporation
John F. Kearney
Chairman
(416) 362-6686
(416) 368-5344 (FAX)

Canadian Zinc Corporation
Alan B. Taylor
VP Exploration & Chief Operating Officer
(604) 688-2001 or Tollfree: 1-866-688-2001
(604) 688-2043 (FAX)
invest@canadianzinc.com
www.canadianzinc.com

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