Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is important to put it in perspective. I think you know, it is not the intention of this government and I would suspect the federal government, to determine board policy as it relates to the diamond industry. What I suggested to the industry in the past, and just recently in London and in Antwerp, that we are developing in consultation with our federal colleagues public policies in the way in which this industry should operate.
I want to remind everybody that this is a unique industry. It is not the same as some would have us believe, as gold, as iron ore or as coal. It is different. It operates differently and it has to have a different set of conditions in our opinion as to how it does operate.
I suggest to him that when we develop public policy to protect the interests of the public, and at the same time maintain, if you want, the profitability of the shareholders of BHP and others; it is important we have a two way dialogue. But it seems to me on this issue of diamond sorting and valuation they have made up their mind in isolation of a two way dialogue between us and our federal colleagues.
I have indicated to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development as recently as a week and a half ago that we are not happy with this position, and to her credit she has agreed earlier today that she is prepared later on this month to meet with myself and Mr. Kakfwi along with the Minister of Finance, Mr. Martin. The whole issue of diamonds, whether it is on the revenue side through taxes and royalties or it is on valuation and sorting, will be on the agenda for discussion with Mr. Kakfwi and myself. I hope at some point we will be able to have a collective partnership on a strategy that we need to take to ensure that Canadians and Northerner's interests are protected both on the job and in the tax revenues site.