Brent Reaney
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 01/05) - Diavik's Northern employment numbers remain high, and they could be getting higher.

The company recently released its 2004 socio-economic indicators report. Northern workers accounted for an average of 72 per cent of the workforce, or six per cent above the amount required under an agreement signed with the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Aboriginal employment averaged 36 per cent.

A new training program hopes to help fill the company's constant need for reliable Northern workers.

A number of groups, including the North Slave Metis Alliance, the NWT Mine Training Society and the territorial government's Department of Employment Culture and Education are co-ordinating the training.

Sixteen people, with a focus on aboriginal applicants, will be chosen to participate in the $650,000 program.

The course begins June 27 with a 12-week training session at Fort Smith's Aurora College campus.

A second 12-week series of classes will be held at the Diavik diamond mine.

Graduates will work as mineral processing operators who help extract diamonds from the kimberlite ore.

The new workers will not immediately affect the company's shortage of skilled Northern tradespeople, said Diavik spokesperson Tom Hoefer.

"It's not a trade, but it's a skilled job and there is room for advancement," he said.

Workers who have spent time working with the company would likely make good candidates to fill four-year apprenticeship spots when they become available, he added.

"We're hoping that we can put (the program) on in the future," said North Slave Metis Alliance president Bill Enge of the program. "It just depends on when they need more operators."

Earning $19 an hour while doing their mine training with Diavik, the starting salary for a mineral processing operator is $50,000 per year, Enge said.

More than 100 people applied for the program. Thirty-two applicants have been selected to enter the interview process, which was to begin Monday.

As of today, Mark Anderson will be Diavik's president and chief operating officer. Currently chief operating officer of Kennecott Utah Copper, Anderson joined Rio Tinto, the owners of Diavik, in 1989.

Anderson replaces Joe Carrabba, who oversaw the early operations of the Diavik diamond mine.