Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. I have recently returned from the Financial Times Diamond Conference in Antwerp, Belgium. While there, I signed an agreement with the Diamond High Council to continue to work together to train northerners for jobs as diamond polishers and cutters. Mr. Speaker, this first-of-its-kind training partnership includes the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Aurora College, The Diamond High Council of Antwerp and the Flemish Government's Department of Education.
We are working together on two initiatives. The first is the development of standards and certification for occupations in the secondary diamond industry. These standards describe in detail the knowledge, skills and attitudes a person needs to be certified as a brillianteer, blocker or bruter. The second initiative is pre-employment training for the secondary diamond industry.
By using the expertise of instructors from the Diamond High Council of Antwerp as well as other diamond experts from around the world, we will train our workers to meet world standards of excellence in the secondary diamond industry.
A key part of the partnership will be the delivery of the Pre-employment Program for the Diamond Industry by Aurora College. The Diamond High Council of Canada, together with the college, will deliver this 16-week program in Yellowknife starting in January 1999. Instructors from the Diamond High Council, who are experts in the world of diamonds, will deliver this program in conjunction with Aurora College instructors. Students will have the opportunity to learn internationally recognized and accredited skills needed to cut and polish diamonds.
There is a great deal of excitement these days about new jobs and opportunities related to diamond mining. We have to continue to ensure that these jobs and opportunities help build a bright future for northerners.