Madam Chair, when the federal government announced the terms and conditions under which they would be prepared to give a licence to BHP, the socio-economic agreement was the main instrument that they offered to provide benefits to people of the north in regard to the establishment of this mine, the construction of it and getting to operation of this mine. As a government, we raised the issue of once the diamonds are out of the ground, and they start to move towards the market, so to speak, what are the possible economic benefits that we could negotiate from that phase. The message from the federal government was that will be dealt with later. There are too many unknowns about that. So we have been waiting rather patiently, not entirely in the loop, while the federal government contemplated what the position should be. It is my view that the federal government has to come clear very soon about what is the position of the Canadian government in regard to the diamonds, once the rough diamonds are presentable by the producers. Thank you.
Stephen Kakfwi on Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on October 23rd, 1997. See this statement in context.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
October 23rd, 1997
Page 117
See context to find out what was said next.