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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWNIFE
Community opportunities and benefits topped the list on day three of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board hearings regarding De Beers' proposed Gahcho Kue diamond mine project.

The Tree of Peace board room was standing-room only on Friday afternoon during the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board public hearing for De Beer's Gahcho Kue project. - Lyndsay Herman/NNSL photo

The first two hearings took place in Dettah and Lutsel K'e on Nov. 30 and Dec. 3, respectively, and wrapped up on Friday in Yellowknife. Residents expressed concerns that diamond mines currently in production in the NWT have done little to deliver on their promise of job opportunities and other gains.

While the territory wonders what will happen once the two mega employers, the Diavik and Ekati diamond mines, reach the end of their dimming lives, De Beers made employment and investment the top issue in its first Yellowknife presentation.

"(During) the last two days of this hearing, we've heard from some community representatives who believe that no benefits have flowed from the diamond mining industry or from Snap Lake Mine to their communities," said Glen Koropchuk, chief operating officer for De Beers Canada, in his presentation. "While I cannot speak for the individual benefits that have flowed from other operations, I would like to clarify, for the record, the benefits that have flowed from Snap Lake operations since construction in 2005."

Koropchuk said Snap Lake, De Beers' other diamond mine currently in production, has employed an average of 215 NWT residents annually since construction commenced in 2005.

Currently, the mine, which is located 220 km northeast of Yellowknife, employs 275 NWT residents and has a mine life of more than 20 years.

Koropchuk added De Beers had spent $1.4 billion on goods and services with NWT businesses and 57 per cent of the spending went to aboriginal-owned businesses.

The proposed Gahcho Kue project, located 280 km northeast of Yellowknife, is expected to require a total of 690 full-time equivalent positions during the two years of the mine's construction and 372 full-time equivalent positions during its 11 years of operation.

The capital cost of the mine is estimated at $650 million and will contribute $3.9 million to gross national product, 80 per cent of which will stay in the territory, said Koropchuk.

Close to $200 million has been invested in the project to date over the past 15 years, he said.

Other commenters on the project included the GNWT, Environment Canada, North Slave Metis Alliance, Aboriginal Affairs and Norther Development Canada, Yellowknives Dene First Nation and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Full presentations and comments can be found on the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board website.

The board is expected to return with a decision in mid-2013.

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