NWT - Last week's Prospects North 2010 Conference in Yellowknife – a partnership between the NWT Chamber of Commerce and the newly-formed Northern Aboriginal Business Association – brought together a mix of government and industry – 200 delegates in all – to discuss projects like the Mackenzie Gas Project, the Gahcho Kue joint venture and issues such as devolution, which was they focus of Premier Floyd Roland's keynote speech on the first day of the conference.

David Swisher, vice president of Avalon Rare Metals' Nechalacho rare earths project near Yellowknife, gives an update on the future mine at the Prospects North 2010 conference in Yellowknife last week. - Guy Quenneville/NNSL photo

Here are some of the things that had people talking.

On Tuesday, Roland said after several years in which the GNWT put devolution on the back burner, re-engaging the federal government in talks regarding resource revenue sharing will now be a top priority for his government as it enters its final year of service.

"Early in my term as premier, I made the statement that we would put devolution and (a) resource revenue sharing agreement on the back burner so that we could focus on working together with our Northern and aboriginal governments," he said.

"Contrary to some opinion at the time, we did not put this important work on hold, and while it has continued to simmer in the background, we have been able to prepare and advance our government, our people and our territory to the point where I think that we can once again talk about such an agreement being within our reach."

In addition to devolution, Roland said his government will concentrate its efforts on the advancement of three major infrastructure projects – the Mackenzie Gas Project, the Mackenzie Valley Highway and the Talston Hydro Expansion Project.

"Each of these projects has the potential to benefit not only NWT residents and Northern businesses but all Canadians," he said.

Avalon Rare Metals, the GNWT and the federal government may be able to partner to come up with "creative" solutions to make sure part of the infrastructure for Avalon's proposed Nechalacho rare earths mine remains in the North, says Avalon's vice president of operations.

The feasibility study for Nechalacho, which Avalon released in July, stated the company is considering locations other than Hay River – long the desired location – for the hydrometallurgical plant that will process rare earths mined at a site northeast of Yellowknife.

The cost of shipping reagents to the hydromet site are considerable, said David Swisher.

"The general costs of reagents and supplies from Edmonton to the hydromet plant in Hay River runs between $80 to $120 per tonne. So from an economic standpoint, it really isn't economic. But we are committed with some of our aboriginal partners who expressed interest in having that there."

He added that Avalon is open to partnering with the GNWT or tapping into federal initiatives that would help offset the costs of keeping the plant in Hay River.

"(That) would benefit the Northwest Territories by keeping the hydromet here but also benefit our shareholders, which we're responsible to in ensuring that we're providing the most economic avenue ..."

The hydromet plant will create 90 jobs.

Cathie Bolstad, De Beers Canada's manager of public and corporate affairs for NWT projects, was on hand to provide an update on the company's joint venture with Mountain Province Diamonds, the Gahcho Kue Project. The future mine will create around 400 jobs, and though Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. recently said it is having a hard time recruiting Northern aboriginal workers, Bolstad said she's confident De Beers' approach to training and recruitment will mean it can continue to exceed its Northern aboriginal hiring targets.

Bolstad said that, as of 2008, the territory's three diamond mines were exceeding their Northern hiring targets.

"I think (it's) a testament to the success the diamond mining industry has had working with Aurora College, the Mine Training Society, ASEP funding. Our learning has been to make sure we plan our training so that we are not training people and and the job's not ready," said Bolstad.

In 2009, 38 per cent of De Beers' Snap Lake diamond mine's workforce was comprised of NWT residents, including aboriginals.

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