Jack Layton calls for national diamond strategy

NEWS RELEASE

NDP COMMUNICATIONS

************************** Need for national diamond strategy: Layton visits DeBeers diamond project in Timmins

ATTAWPISKAT - Following a visit of the new Victor Diamond Mine on the James Bay coast, NDP leader Jack Layton said it is time for a national diamond strategy.

Layton toured the site with MP Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay), MPP Gilles Bisson (Timmins-James Bay) and Chief Theresa Hall, leader of the Attawapiskat Cree.

They met with the heads of both DeBeers and the Mining Association of Canada.

Diamond development in the far north is putting Canada on the international stage as a diamond leader.

Layton says its time federal politicians woke up to this fact.

"We have the potential to develop a diamond industry that is a model for the world. But we need to ensure that the maximum benefits are coming back to the regions in value-added processing and First Nation partnerships. We need a national diamond strategy that ensures the maximum benefit from this valuable resource."

MP Charlie Angus says it is important that any diamond development includes commitments for native resource-revenue sharing and job opportunities.

"Victor Diamond Mine is a fantastically rich project in a region that has seen such horrendous levels of poverty. We need to work as government, industry and First Nations to ensure that job opportunities and resource revenue sharing with First Nations are written into every agreement."

MPP Gilles Bisson (Timmins-James Bay) says the provincial Liberals have dropped the ball on diamond development in the James Bay region.

"Dalton McGuinty tripled the tax on the Victor project just nine months before it went into production. This is not how you encourage development in the north. This tax grab will benefit Queen's Park but will do nothing for the Cree communities who have a right to enjoy fair revenue sharing from this project."

*************************