Debates of June 1, 2006 (day 3)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today about an issue that’s very, very close to a number of my constituents and that is the stability and the future of our secondary diamond industry. Mr. Speaker, there are, I believe, about 150 people now engaged in working in the sorting and cutting and polishing industry here in Yellowknife. This was something that our government engaged in about 10 years ago with excitement and optimism, to be able to be leaders in Canada in introducing this new industry based on the success of our diamond miners. Now, there have been some failures and some successes. Most recently, Mr. Speaker, I think we can congratulate the new federal government for finally getting rid of the excise tax on jewellery.

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We can also congratulate, closer to home, BHP Billiton and Arslanian and Polar Ice Factories for achieving a three-year supply deal. But we have had setbacks, Mr. Speaker.

In the last few weeks a local cutting and polishing shop, Canada Dene Diamonds, a joint venture including the Deton’Cho Corporation, closed its doors with the loss of 14 jobs. But of most concern, Mr. Speaker, is our decision, our decision, this government’s decision last fall to collapse our own government’s four-person diamond projects unit. This unit was established to provide strategic investment and regulatory support, marketing support, training and immigration help to the businesses and to oversee and monitor our own very substantial investment in this industry, but now we’re essentially down to one person looking after the certificate program. Mr. Speaker, I feel that, at least in part and certainly in spirit, by collapsing this unit we have abandoned the partnerships that we’ve established with the businesses, the customers and there are over 600 stores across Canada and the U.S. that want our product and especially, Mr. Speaker, the constituents that we share here in Yellowknife and in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, a cost benefit analysis recently done by this government shows that on a sustained basis for a $2 million investment a year we could see a total benefit of tenfold increase to some $20 million a year. I want to see our government’s commitment and optimism in this industry restored, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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