The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) was represented by Minister of ITI Bob McLeod and Director Responsible for the Secondary Diamond Industry Tracy St-Denis at several important meetings and events over the weekend. 

While Minister Bob McLeod's travel schedule prevented him from attending in-person, St-Denis delivered remarks at the De Beers Group's ForeverMark reception June 3 on behalf of Minister McLeod.

The remarks covered the imminent opening of Gahcho Kué, the importance of industry-government partnerships, and the socio-economic contributions of the diamond sector in the Northwest Territories. 

Read the full text below. 

(Check against delivery)

Good evening.

Thank you for your generous invitation this evening at the ForeverMark reception, as the De Beers team gets together to celebrate their long, storied history of diamond production.

I’m pleased to have the opportunity to speak tonight as we honour the ForeverMark brand and would like to congratulate the ForeverMark and J. Walter Thompson Italy teams on their recent success in New York with their “It’s A Long Journey To Become The One” advertising film.  In this age of the ten second sound bite, this extended piece is captivating and effectively correlates a diamond’s journey with the quest for true love.

I would also like to offer my best to Bruce Cleaver on his appointment as CEO of De Beers Group. He will have large shoes to fill as Philippe Mellier’s embarks on a new chapter of his life July 1, but with over a decade of success already under his belt at De Beers, I don’t believe there’s any doubt he is up to the task. 

It was 25 years ago that diamonds were discovered in the Northwest Territories. This started the largest staking rush Canada’s North has ever experienced and has become the story is now renowned among prospectors and executives alike.

These 25 years have seen more than $50 billion in mineral value produced. It has seen over $11 billion spent on business in our territory — $5 billion on Aboriginal-owned companies — and more than 22,000 person-years of employment generated.

De Beers has spent close to $1.6 billion with NWT businesses over the past 10 years; $864 million alone with Aboriginal companies. We are thankful for the significant contributions De Beers has made to our history in diamonds, and excited for the next milestone in your own, far longer story in the industry.

In true De Beers’ fashion, Gahcho Kué is on-budget and on-time to begin production this year. It is no small task to ramp-up the world’s largest new diamond mine in the challenging environment of Canada’s Northwest Territories and your team should be applauded for their efforts.

Of course, the Government of the Northwest Territories is pleased by the expected 400 jobs to be created for our citizens throughout the planned 12-year mine life and the associated contributions to our economy.

But De Beers’ demonstrated commitment to beneficiation is another exciting piece of what your company brings to the table. The recent release of De Beers 2015 Report To Society highlights many of these efforts.  We are especially proud of the ongoing partnership between De Beers, Aurora College and the Mine Training Society. These programs designed with training and work placement opportunities have proven especially successful.

We are keen to continue working with De Beers to maximize the benefits our resources bring to the people of the NWT.

We have already seen the results which come from the organization’s dedication to the communities in you operate. De Beers has contributed grants, scholarships, and education opportunities, and sponsored some of our most beloved community events.

This has instilled our government with the confidence that De Beers will continue to meet its socio-economic commitments, and a sense of responsibility to do our part in supporting De Beers’ operations in the NWT.

Our approach to industry partnership fits well with De Beers’ approach towards beneficiation. We have a tradition of working closely with industry, Aboriginal governments and organizations, and our citizens to reach the best possible outcomes.

The collaboration already undertaken by our organizations seems to have worked. A recent third-party survey shows the vast majority of our citizens support a strong, enduring mineral industry in the Northwest Territories. It is a testament, in part, to the work already done in building relationships and knowledge of NWT residents by operators like De Beers in partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories.

We intend to continue this tradition as Gahcho Kué ramps up later this year and will continue working with De Beers to bring more innovative ideas to the table.

Please know that as you look towards De Beers’ future in the Northwest Territories, the Government of the Northwest Territories is your ally in responsible resource development.

Thank you for your attention, and please enjoy the rest of the festivities.