Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Darnley Bay project in Paulatuk, Mr. Speaker, is approaching another drilling season. All across the Northwest Territories, communities such as Paulatuk are one step closer to seeing a fully operating diamond mine near the community in similar projects. This project has experienced some slowdown due to the global economy.
Fortunately this project has once again built some momentum and financing and is moving this forward. Recently the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency invested $485,000 to help the Paulatuk Development Corporation in purchasing moveable exploration camps, which could be used at the mine site with the exploration companies.
Darnley Bay Resources Limited and Diadem and the contractor or geoscientists are currently active in searching for diamonds and base metals near the community of Paulatuk. This camp will consist of a 20-person moveable camp, complete with a camp manager, cook, First Aid attendant and camp staff who look forward to all the operations and logistics.
Darnley Bay Resources Limited is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and is preparing for the 2011 exploration drilling season for the diamonds and base metals, with two drilling campaigns planned. According to their spokesperson we’ve been speaking to, they’re hiring many local people from the community. The result of their recent finding is another indicator of a promising future for this project.
As the project moves forward, many organizations and groups want to see people from Paulatuk get meaningful employment and to participate and benefit economically, not just with low-wage jobs but with positions such as drillers and geologists, managers and environmental monitors. Construction companies could be used to build the site and camp catering companies could be used to provide a wide range of services.
This project is an excellent opportunity for a small, remote community such as Paulatuk to create and build real capacity in all areas of the local economy. I will have questions for the Minister of ITI at the appropriate time.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
