Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the UN Security Council just passed a resolution calling for a global boycott on diamonds from Sierra Leone. In June in the Edmonton Journal, there were a couple of editorials on diamonds, one calling for an international boycott of diamonds. Not only those from Sierra Leone, but all diamonds since it is so difficult to tell where diamonds have come from.
Mr. Speaker, unless we do something, there is a danger that Canadian diamonds could become part of a boycott because of the growing demand that something be done to stop the flow of so-called conflict diamonds that fuel the violence in Africa. Let us not forget what impact the fur boycott had on the northern economy and our residents. We cannot be complacent on this issue.
Mr. Speaker, we have an important stake in having a system set up that would prove to the consumer that their diamond is from Canada, and not one from Sierra Leone that has been slipped into the mix. An international system would be best, but there is so much at risk for our economy that we cannot wait for that to be set up.
We should recognize, Mr. Speaker, that our responsibility also goes beyond economics. We have a responsibility to the innocent victims of the brutal warlords in African countries like Angola, the Congo and Sierra Leone. The only way to hurt these criminals is to stop the flow of diamonds from these countries. The only way to do that without a worldwide boycott is to have some way to prove that diamonds being sold to the public are not conflict diamonds.
Mr. Speaker, I know the GNWT has had a preliminary look at a process that will allow certification of Canadian diamonds which would audit a chain of custody to prove that a diamond comes from the Northwest Territories. I believe the government should accelerate its efforts to bring such a system into play. We need to involve players like the Diamond High Council and the mining companies to develop a certification process for rough diamonds that will lead to the highest level of confidence among consumers to stave off a worldwide boycott of diamonds.
Mr. Speaker, we have the highest quality diamonds coming out of the ground in the Northwest Territories. Now we need to be able to demonstrate to the world that we are doing our part to save lives in Africa and to protect our diamond economy by developing a reputable certification process to prove to the buying public that their diamond comes from the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause