Yellowknife (July 26/06) - De Beers Canada reached its goals for Northern and Aboriginal worker employment during the construction stage of the Snap Lake diamond mine in 2005.

De Beers Canada's Snap Lake project. The company recently released its 2005 Socio-Economic report, which focuses on Northern and Aboriginal employment. - photo courtesy of De Beers Canada

The company released information on its hiring practices in its 2005 Snap Lake Socio-Economic Report last week.

It states that De Beers Canada reached its goal in hiring Northerners. De Beers hired 41 per cent of its construction workforce from the North. The construction workforce also consists of 17 per cent Aboriginal employees.

"We're happy to achieve those numbers," said Cathie Bolstad, manager of public and corporate affairs.

In the highly competitive construction market, the company is glad to be able to employ Northern and Aboriginal workers, she said.

More than 700 employees are expected to work at the Snap Lake property during the construction phase, Bolstad said. "The bulk of the earth works and infrastructure has been completed," Bolstad said, adding underground work is still ongoing at Snap Lake.

Despite the early closure of the Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road, construction is still on schedule, she added.

"There has been a significant air campaign to transport fuel." Bolstad said the construction schedule was modified to deal with shortages in certain supplies.

Construction at the property, located 220 km northeast of Yellowknife, is expected to continue until 2007.

As construction at the Snap Lake property continues, the Mine Training Society is willing to entertain proposals to help train skilled Aboriginal workers, said Dan O'Neill, general manager with the Mine Training Society.

"We're willing to assist De Beers in reaching or surpassing their goals for Aboriginal employment,"O'Neill said.

The Mine Training Society trains workers in skilled mine related trades and apprenticeship positions.