Embury was referring to Anne Griffiths. Wearing a departmental name tag, Griffiths attended Monday's opening of De Beers first Canadian office, in Vancouver. The event was considered significant because De Beers will be a key player in determining where and how diamonds from the NWT's future mines are sorted, processed and sold.

Members of a Yellowknife delegation Griffiths promoted a tax-free economic development zone in Montreal while at the reception.

Asked why Griffiths was wearing a name tag indicating she was with Natural Resources, Embury said, "I don't know. Believe me, our department's looking into it."

Embury said he did not know if Griffiths was working on contract to the department.

"Even if she was under contract, she shouldn't have had a government name tag on," he said.

The only other Natural Resources Canada representative on the guest list was Michel Boucher.

Neither Boucher nor Griffiths could be reached for comment.

On Tuesday a Quebec firm called Execuspace, where it's believed Griffiths is to be employed, said she is in Vancouver for the next two weeks but could not contact her.