It made the claim last week during a meeting with the federal territorial steering committee on diamonds.

The task force has criticized the federal government for not supporting the North on emerging diamond industry benefits.

At the meeting, the task force said: "As an example of the support we would appreciate from the federal government, we would direct your attention to the support provided to a company in Calgary, who we understand has solicited funds from HRD Canada to implement training in diamond cutting and polishing for approximately 30 individuals."

"The obvious rhetorical question is why wasn't this done in Yellowknife."

But Canadian Diamonds International vice- president of administration and corporate affairs Myrna Higgs said the company is pursuing funding from the province of Alberta -- not Ottawa.

"We do not at the moment have funding from HRD Canada. We have not asked the federal government for funding," Higgs said.

Canadian Diamonds International is, however, seeking money from the Alberta government, she said.

A Yellowknifer close to the task force, suggests such provincial funding may in fact indirectly originate from the federal government.

Canadian Diamonds International hopes to run an apprentice program to train Canadians to cut and polish diamonds.

"(We) hope to purchase rough diamonds from NWT mines," Higgs said.

Over five years the program could turn out 50 to 100 trained diamond cutters and could be running by April or May, she said.

Canadian Diamonds principals are Belgians Herman Habraken and Laurent Martens.

Habraken operates Belgium-based Triplex Diamonds which buys rough diamonds then cuts and polishes them for sale as finished diamonds.

Triplex exports much of its diamonds to the Japanese market, Higgs said.

Habraken is president of Canadian Diamonds International president.

Martens is the company's vice-president of research and development. He is a laser and robotics specialist and chemical engineer.