Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I understand the need for the government to ensure that we do not have conflict diamonds coming through our facilities here, so we can prove to the world that the diamonds we have are not blood diamonds or conflict diamonds. I guess I am having trouble understanding why we would be concerned about the standards. There are already international standards for diamonds. A jewelry appraiser can look at a diamond and say that a diamond is a VS1 E-colour, or F-colour or G-colour, with a good cut or a bad cut. Why are we worried about what the standards are? Manufacturers have to compete in the world market. Surely all we should be worried about is demonstrating that we do not have conflict diamonds here.
Charles Dent on Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 28th, 2002. See this statement in context.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 27th, 2002
Page 271
See context to find out what was said next.