Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Dent on February 25, 2002, regarding the percentage of production that BHP Billiton now provides to diamond polishing firms in the Northwest Territories.
BHP Billiton is not obliged by any legislation or agreement to provide a percentage of production to diamond polishing firms in the Northwest Territories. However, BHP Billiton has indicated they will provide up to 10 percent of diamond rough production value for local manufacturing.
The Ekati mine production for 2001 equalled $527 million US. This converts to approximately $850 million Canadian. In 2001 the full allocation available to the three territorial diamond manufacturers was valued at approximately $85 million dollars Canadian, or 10 percent of Ekati's production.
-- Applause