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Gold/Mining/Energy : Canadian Diamond Play Cafi -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Famularo who wrote (175)	9/18/2002 8:49:24 AM
From: Just G	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 16206

Wednesday, 18 September, 200 De Beers, Attawapiskat officials to resume negotiations Friday Negotiations will continue Friday between diamond giant De Beers Canada and Attawapiskat First Nation. De Beers will be seeking to continue with its winter program at the Victor Project, 90 kilometres west of Attawapiskat on the James Bay coast. A memorandum of agreement was signed in March 1999 but was rescinded by the community council at the end of July, over fears the company was moving too fast. If successful, the Victor Project would result in the development of Ontario's first diamond mine. "Up until recently, we've had a good working relationship with the council," said Jocelyn Fraser, spokeswoman for De Beers. "Our hope is to proceed with our winter plans, which is to continue our prefeasability study. "Things like seeing how structures and the muskeg react in the winter, the environment and the advantages of a winter road or permanent road are just some of the things we need to consider." The company is looking to the short-term in its negotiations, but is willing to discuss larger issues if the project goes ahead on schedule. "We want to discuss the impact benefit agreement, but it will take lots of time to discuss the issues involved," Fraser said. "A mine of any kind takes a long time to become operational, much more so in such a remote and challenging location. "The technical challenges are huge, since it's a very complex kimberlite deposit. "It's important to discuss who gets what and how each party is impacted, but revenue sharing is usually in the government's hands." De Beers is proud of the fact it hired 30 to 50 per cent of site employees from the community and education efforts have been well received, said Fraser. "We're trying to work with and learn about traditional ecological knowledge," she said. "We're also trying to respect their culture, but treaty issues are the federal government's responsibility. "The MOU was canceled two months ago, because their council felt we had exceeded our agreement, but profit sharing is a subject we'll begin to discuss when it comes up." The climate of mining has changed in the past few decades, since companies can no longer just go into Aboriginal territories and expect to take resources without negotiations, Fraser said. "We're flexible and we're open to discuss innovative ways to doing things," she said. "It's still too early to consider details of a participation agreement until negotiations are complete." First Nation Coun. Tom Tookate said De Beers has "had it all their own way," up to the present. "They are trying to push their agenda and schedule on us, without letting us know if we're going to share in the pie," he said. "All our community wants is a fair deal with proper compensation. "We want to make sure our treaty rights are respected and that the environmental impact is minimized." The will of council is that the project go ahead, as long as De Beers negotiates the immediate issues and long- term revenue sharing, Tookate said. "The company is happy, the federal and provincial governments are happy to let the mine happen, since they will get at least 10 per cent in taxes," he said. "If we got that kind of tax money, we'd leave our Third World status behind and we'd be able to build real infrastructure, housing and raise our standard of living to that of average Canadians." Chief Theresa Hall said a decision to go ahead with the project will be made on Thursday after she and council meet with their legal counsel. "Consultation by De Beers has been one sided so far, pushing their agenda," Hall said.