Debates of June 1, 2006 (day 3)

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. Speaker, I spent an hour earlier this week with a senior representative of Aber Resources to hear about things from the miners’ point of view. So I am not at all going to stand here and take a cheap shot from the Minister about my not being up to speed on what’s going on out there. Points that I have raised are valid and certainly come from experienced voices. Mr. Speaker, I’m going to get to my question. If the Minister wants to talk about communications, perhaps he could tell the Assembly why he decided in secret last fall to collapse the diamond projects division and withdraw from the National Diamond Strategy, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 29-15(5): Future Of Secondary Diamond Industry

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll send a copy of the letter to the Member that I sent to the Governance and Economic Development committee about that reorganization. Mr. Speaker, my concern is the suggestion that we’ve abandoned the National Diamond Strategy and a characterization that this was something that was supported by the secondary industry. In my consultations with all of the factory operators, they suggested to me that we needed to move on, move past this and refocus our efforts. In fact, when the issue came up in the House the last time around, I met with them again to ask if potentially they had changed their minds, because there seemed to be an advocacy for this National Diamond Strategy. They said no. We haven’t met with the Members asking the questions about the NDS. We still don’t support it. We are happy you did that. They continue to suggest to me that they applaud the move to move away from the National Diamond Strategy, which they didn’t find very useful. So if there is some miscommunication here, if the Member is hearing something different, maybe he would like to indicate which of the factories is in support of the National Diamond Strategy and thinks it was a mistake. The mines that I am talking to are telling me different. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 29-15(5): Future Of Secondary Diamond Industry

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. Braden. There are two questions there. Mr. Bell, you can answer one or both.

Further Return To Question 29-15(5): Future Of Secondary Diamond Industry

Mr. Speaker, again, I will provide that letter to GED. The last few days, I have talked to the chair of Governance and Economic Development committee about pulling together a focus group that would do some gap analysis of a number of sectors. We talked to specifically about the mining sector, the need to make sure we understand where all of the opportunities are. I am more than prepared to sit down with any of the constituents that the Member has that potentially have been displaced at the Canada Dene factory failing. I can sit down and meet with them, as well with the Minister of Education who has the North Slave career office here. I believe most of them, Mr. Speaker, have chosen to go back to Israel. Many of them were on work permits, but if there are Canadians here who were displaced, need our help, need our resources, that is our first priority. I am absolutely prepared to do that. If there are other issues that his constituents have, other concerns related to the industry, I am more than happy to meet with them. The Member need only ask. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 29-15(5): Future Of Secondary Diamond Industry

Okay, Mr. Speaker. So we have to ask. I will tell you where the gap analysis is, it’s in the communication strategy and the communication attitude that the Minister has about informing committees and Members about things that are going on that are very valid to our jobs and expectations and our obligation to our constituents. Mr. Speaker, why is it that the Minister puts the obligation on me or committees to have to ask to be kept up to speed. The Minister is the one with the resources; the Minister is the one with the mandate; the Minister is the one with the obligation to uphold the principles of consensus government and involve me when and as things are happening. It’s not on my back to do that; it’s on his. When is he going to pick up that responsibility and honour his mandate as a Minister, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 29-15(5): Future Of Secondary Diamond Industry

Mr. Speaker, I think I have a very close working relationship with the Governance and Economic Development committee. We meet quite frequently to discuss issues formally and informally. I am more than wiling to do that with Members as it relates to constituents who have specific concerns. Yes, I do rely on the advocacy of Members to bring those issues forward. In terms of communication on major initiatives, that is my job to come forward to committee and present them with those things. Of course, we had that discussion when we decided to move away from the National Diamond Strategy. I did present committee with that information. If there is a change and we decide we want to get back into national initiatives, obviously I would come back before committee. If there are major departures or changes of direction, I will come back before committee, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.