This government is taking its direction from the Diamond Policy Framework, which the last government brought into place in 2010 under the Premier in his capacity as the former Minister of ITI. I remember quite clearly pushing the last government quite hard to get that policy framework in place, which would establish rules of engagement for the government going forward.
Quite clearly, that Diamond Policy Framework states that the government will seek investment in a
secondary diamond industry. Gone are the days when government would put taxpayers’ dollars at risk in the development of a secondary industry. Folks that want to get into the cut and polish industry here in the Northwest Territories are doing so of their own volition, and certainly, we believe that it can happen here.
If the Member goes back in Hansard over the nine years that I’ve been here, my vision for what a diamond manufacturing industry here in Yellowknife would mean and what diamonds mean is quite clearly stated. I do believe that we are going to be mining diamonds here in the Northwest Territories for decades to come. I believe wholeheartedly that we can have a flourishing secondary industry here in the Northwest Territories. I think this is a very positive step that the government’s taken and we’re not finished there. I think there’s a lot more good news that is going to come.
Again, I’m working very hard at trying to attract new investment into the secondary industry and into the exploration area so that we can find more diamonds here in the Northwest Territories and get more jobs and opportunities for people.