For immediate release
June 19, 2006
MEDIA RELEASE
PREMIER MCGUINTY VISITS VICTOR TO CELEBRATE
CONSTRUCTION OF ONTARIO'S FIRST DIAMOND MINE
Timmins, Monday June 19, 2006 – Jim Gowans, President and CEO of De Beers Canada, hosted Premier Dalton McGuinty and his colleagues Ministers Bartolucci, Ramsey and Bentley at the Victor Project today at an offical ground breaking event to celebrate the construction of Ontario's first diamond mine.
Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony Jim Gowans said "Having the Premier and Ministers here today is acknowledgment of the importance of De Beers' $982 million investment in Ontario." He also stated that the Victor project was a reflection of successful partnerships which have been established between the company, the Attawapiskat First Nation and the Government.
The Victor Project, currently in construction, will create 375 full time jobs during operations. Over 300 First Nation people have worked on the project so far. The GDP effect on northeastern Ontario is estimated to be $4.2 billon and the cumulative GDP effect for the province is $6.7 billion.
"One of the most exciting components of this project is the unique relationship that we have with the Attawapiskat First Nation. I am delighted that Chief Mike Carpenter is here to celebrate with us, as together we have created over $67 million dollars in business development opportunities for the community so far," stated Jeremy Wyeth, Vice President of the Victor Project.
De Beers is investing $2 billion in Canada to develop two diamond mines concurrently. These will be the company's first mines outside of Africa. The Snap Lake project in the NWT is scheduled to begin production in fall 2007 and Victor in fall 2008. The company is taking a third project, Gahcho Kue which is in the NWT, through an environmental assessment.
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| For further information contact: |
Derek Teevan
Manager - Aboriginal and Government Affairs
Victor Project
Telephone: 613-791-2011 |
Linda Dorrington
Manager Public and Corporate Affairs
De Beers Canada Inc
Telephone: 416-645-1710 ext 2107
Cell: 416-818-2254
Email: linda.dorrington@ca.debeersgroup.com |
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