Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome back, and welcome back to my colleagues.
After a long period of inactivity in the diamond polishing and cutting industry, I’m very pleased to see that the production start-up of Deepak International (DIL) has finally arrived in the Range Lake riding. This revitalization comes at a critical time in our territory’s future growth and the global diamond industry, and we look forward to working with DIL to put the NWT back on the international diamond stage.
However, many Members of this Assembly are concerned on the long process that DIL had to endure to get to this point in manufacturing, and coupled with little to no information from the ITI department, nor the Minister on this recent announcement begs to ask why so much secrecy.
Now, I realize the concern that many in the department may have had due to past manufacturer failings. However, this production start-up company was self-financed with little to no risk to the public purse. So, again, why the delays and why the non-collaboration with standing committee or the riding representative?
I want to stress that these are very exciting times for the territory and for DIL, but the lack of information leading up to this announcement puzzles many Legislative Members.
It is further concerning that the department and the Minister appear to be operating in the cover of darkness when it comes to our revitalization of the secondary diamond industry, and as a Member of consensus government, and as a home to diamond manufacturing, we do have to ask, again, that question why.
Recently, with no agenda given or a current secondary diamond policy, our Minister undertook a world tour to places like London, England; Antwerp, Belgium; and Gaborone, Botswana, all under the guise of drumming up business with future diamond producers. With the taxpayer laying down this blanket of money for such expensive travel, one has to ask what was the Minister’s strategy to revitalize this industry, and was this new mysterious diamond framework discussed in consensus and a collaborative matter with Members of this Assembly prior to such travels. We all know the answers to those questions.
We have the unique opportunity at a second chance in this diamond industry, and we are being scrutinized by the industry itself. It is important that we support hardworking upstart operators like Deepak International Limited, and place caution in moving forward into this industry with no compass or roadmap. We cannot repeat the scars of our past.
I will have further questions for the Minister of ITI later today to help answer some of these concerning questions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
