Bill Braden

Mr. Speaker, thank you, and thank you, colleagues. I would like to continue to take up the issue regarding secondary diamond industry with the Minister, Mr. Bell. In our exchange a little earlier today he suggested that maybe I was a bit behind in my homework and my communication with the principals involved in this, and I was no where up to speed on this as he was. Mr. Speaker, I would like to be able to refer the Assembly to an appointment that I had last week, I believe it was last Thursday. I spent an hour and a half with the owners and managers of Arslanian and Polar Ice Works. Mr...

Mr. Speaker, I share the Minister’s hope that we will find new mines and continue on in the future, but what I don’t see, Mr. Speaker, are cutting and polishing factories banging on the door out there looking for authorization and ways to get involved. This industry is not one that has a very optimistic future and that’s why I’m asking these questions, Mr. Speaker. The Minister referenced the National Diamond Strategy, also something that we abandoned. Now Saskatchewan and Ontario are next to become Canadian producers. Their economies of scale are much bigger; their pockets are a lot...

Mr. Speaker, I share the Minister’s hope that we will find new mines and continue on in the future, but what I don’t see, Mr. Speaker, are cutting and polishing factories banging on the door out there looking for authorization and ways to get involved. This industry is not one that has a very optimistic future and that’s why I’m asking these questions, Mr. Speaker. The Minister referenced the National Diamond Strategy, also something that we abandoned. Now Saskatchewan and Ontario are next to become Canadian producers. Their economies of scale are much bigger; their pockets are a lot...

Mr. Speaker, I’m wondering if what the Minister is telling us is that now the diamond unit has been collapsed and things are better without it, I really can’t have that kind of decision. So, you know, now that the expertise that had been assembled over some time has now been dissolved or dissipated, just what is the government doing to grow and enhance this industry, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Speaker, I’m wondering if what the Minister is telling us is that now the diamond unit has been collapsed and things are better without it, I really can’t have that kind of decision. So, you know, now that the expertise that had been assembled over some time has now been dissolved or dissipated, just what is the government doing to grow and enhance this industry, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The following summarizes progress on committee’s other priorities.

Effective April 1, 2006, a new Department of Human Resources was created, with the committee’s support. The committee will continue to monitor the new department closely to ensure that it does result in a more efficient and accountable system. In particular, we would encourage the government to task the new department with re-examining the affirmative action policy and bringing forward options for discussion within the life of this Assembly.

The Joint Cabinet/AOC Working Group...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The following summarizes progress on committee’s other priorities.

Effective April 1, 2006, a new Department of Human Resources was created, with the committee’s support. The committee will continue to monitor the new department closely to ensure that it does result in a more efficient and accountable system. In particular, we would encourage the government to task the new department with re-examining the affirmative action policy and bringing forward options for discussion within the life of this Assembly.

The Joint Cabinet/AOC Working Group...

Mr. Speaker, when was the last time the Minister or the department briefed committee on this whole area of the National Diamond Strategy? When was the last time the Minister took the time to speak to individual MLAs with constituencies directly concerned with this? It’s one of the expectations that we have in our consensus system. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, when was the last time the Minister or the department briefed committee on this whole area of the National Diamond Strategy? When was the last time the Minister took the time to speak to individual MLAs with constituencies directly concerned with this? It’s one of the expectations that we have in our consensus system. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 7. Thank you.