Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Cabinet met with Minister Jane Stewart, yesterday morning. We had a very brief time. Diamonds, specifically was not on the agenda. We used up the time available to us to speak about the Royal Commission report, the issue of division, the difficulties and some of the issues outstanding in regard to division. I spoke generically about the importance of the mining industry, the mining sector to the economy of the north and to Yellowknife, in particular. I suggested to her that as Minister responsible for Minerals, Lands and Waters in the Northwest Territories that she has a direct obligation to do something specifically, to assist existing operating mines to continue to operate during what we hope is a short-term drop in the price of gold. We did not engage in the issue of diamonds since it is contentious and the federal government has yet to make decisions. Actually, nothing much has changed since the last couple of months and so we have decided not to raise the issue since it would not be of any immediate consequence to us. Thank you.
Stephen Kakfwi on Question 74-13(5): Diamond Task Force Update
In the Legislative Assembly on January 22nd, 1998. See this statement in context.
Further Return To Question 74-13(5): Diamond Task Force Update
Question 74-13(5): Diamond Task Force Update
Item 7: Oral Questions
January 21st, 1998
Page 272
See context to find out what was said next.