Well could we finally be coming to an end of the quiet period? Word on the street is, the long awaited filing may be out before the end of the month... yea this month January and yea this year 2005.
In addition to the filing, those who have had claims maps that were given away at the Races, you should compare those to the new one out this month.
Ottawa — The federal government is set to announce that it has reached a deal to provide new money to train aboriginal Canadians for the bustling diamond industry in the Northwest Territories, although industry officials say much more needs to be done if Canada is to seize its chance to become a diamond powerhouse.
Canada, which has only two active diamond mines, has already leapfrogged ahead of South Africa to become the world's No. 3 producer of diamonds, based on total value of mining production. Many in the industry, however, say Canada has a golden chance to become No. 1 over the next 10 to 15 years, but won't be able to take full advantage of the opportunity unless many more skilled workers — particularly cutters and polishers — can be trained.
“We're so short of trades, it's frightening,” said Hilary Jones, general manager of Arslanian Cutting Works NWT Ltd., a diamond processing company in Yellowknife.
The deal with a consortium of parties, including the Northwest Territories government, calls for Ottawa to chip in $14.9-million toward a total budget of $40-million. The agreement will likely be announced after MPs resume sitting in Parliament at the end of this month.
Government officials say more money for training will be on the way, if it's needed.
“We're not going to miss out on the opportunity to be world leaders,” former human resources and skills development minister Joe Volpe said recently. “If we're going to be world leaders in diamond mining and other [areas of mining], this is a great first step.”
The agreement, expected to create 380 long-term jobs, is worded so that the money could be used to train people in any corner of the mining sector, but it's geared toward polishing, cutting and other skills associated with the diamond industry.
Industry and government officials say diamonds will create hundreds, or even thousands, of good-paying jobs in the coming years.
Ken Donnelly, who works in the aboriginal affairs directorate of Human Resources and Skills Development, said the industry is already strong enough to provide a high-paying job for any Northwest Territories resident who gets trained. “The demands are that high.”
But many involved in the industry say Ottawa needs to do more if Canada's diamond sector is going to reach its vast potential.
“It all depends on the federal government,” said Mike Botha, a master polisher with almost four decades in the diamond industry and developer of the diamond skills program at Aurora College in Yellowknife. “If they want to grow the industry, they can — it doesn't seem they have the will.”
Both active Canadian diamond mines — Ekati and Diavik — are located near Yellowknife, with three more expected to open in the next few years in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Northern Ontario. Mr. Botha says the wild card is the Fort a la Corne area of central Saskatchewan because it has the world's largest known diamond deposit and could make Canada the world's clear leader in the industry.
The two existing mines already produce about $1.7-billion worth of diamonds a year and employ about 2,200 people. Diamonds represent the Northwest Territories' top industry and have attracted big names such as global giant De Beers of South Africa, international retailer Tiffany's, and scores of smaller players.
“Canada is a hot spot in the world for exploring for diamonds,” said Martin Irving, director of the territorial government's diamond project. But it's not just a question of opening mines, industry officials say, or training cutters and polishers. There's also the potential to create new companies and oodles of jobs in the retail, tourism, and perhaps most importantly, exploration wings of the industry.
“Canada is heavily staked, but it's not heavily explored,” Mr. Botha said.
The other key to taking full advantage of the diamond opportunity is to ensure that the gems that are mined in Canada, particularly the more valuable ones, are also processed here.
As it stands now, officials say, more than 50 per cent of Canadian diamonds are exported.
Mr. Botha suggests Ottawa consider four proposals to solve that problem and others: More money for skills training; further limitations on the exporting of unfinished, large diamonds; tax incentives; and import duties".
Taken from another board
Msg List | Prev Recommend | Post Msg | Reply
Message: 737 Category: GN (General Stock-related)
Posted: 1/20/2005 3:45:50 PM Recs: 0
Subject: A "verbatime" quote by Andy Hill: "We are close. . .this is no B.S." Author: proeag Sentiment:
By: jfarn
20 Jan 2005, 02:15 PM EST
Msg. 145121 of 145140
Jump to msg. #
Just spoke to Andy about the vision I had about seeing Urban "giggling" with delight when he was informed of the .0009 trades going through. Andy was very upbeat and reiterated to me that he phoned Urban about the .0009 trades going through and he again said that Urban was giggling with joy! He further noted that Urban's mood is getting better by the day. As far as the filing by the end of the month comment that was reported in a previous post...the correct statement should be that "if we are to file using 3Q we have a 120 days before it is considered historical...120 days out brings us to months end"
My impression of the situation from my conversation with Mr. Hill from what he stated and judging his mood is that we are nearing something very positive. I will leave you with a verbatim quote from Mr. Hill. Have a good day...JF
"We are close...this is no B.S" "Close with a capital C...tomorrow I might say close with a capital C and L"
- - - - -
< EOM >
This was a post from one of my other boards,just another post to fill in on the Andy updates.Seems like everyone is calling this poor IR person.I wonder if he is ever off the phone.
Saturn
GreenBaron stock profile site
Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 12:36 pm
rdelp
Site Admin
Joined: Jun 09, 2003
Posts: 68
Here is a link to the Greenbaron's site. THey have a following of about 700K. Many have reported they won't buy CMKX until they see the filings.
Word is CMKX now has 72,000 shareholders. Thats amazing for a pinksheet stock.
Rob D.
Poster from another baord e-mailed Andy Hill
Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 9:03 pm
rdelp
Site Admin
Joined: Jun 09, 2003
Posts: 68
In order to clear up the Close with a Capital "C" and the mention of April , well I emailed Andy, thinking I'd get a reply Monday , but to my surprise he replied today. I had asked to clear up the Close verses April and here is what I wrote , followed by what he replied .
============================================
Hi Andy,
I've been following the progress of CMKX though the proboards32 forum since its inception. Lately you've probably had an overload of queries regarding the "Close" statement. My concern was regarding the Close with a Capital "C" statement was your further comment that if we don't file by the end of January then the next date is the end of April. I have trouble with regarding April as close with a Capital "C" . Is the Close with a Capital "C" your assesment or is this Urbans assesment ? I probably reacted more negatively than most because I am officially retired since Dec 15,2004 and It was NOT CMKX that prompted me to retire but rather an oustanding company offer which I couldn't refuse. (Bell Canada 30 Years service) . The problem is I have several projects to undertake , but am awaiting the outcome of CMKX . I don't mind WHEN we file .If its in 3 months then so be it. I was happy with the Close. Then confused with the April comment. Are YOU more confident with next week but commented about April as a safeguard? Or are you clueless (don't take that the wrong way ) as to when we file . Is there another factor such as the rumored SEC meeting which might sway the filing date ?
On Proboards32 I go by the name of Peterg2000. I realise that you only have the information given to you by management and all WE have the information from you. So what you say as well as its accuracy is very important to us .
Thanks
Pete
============================================
Hi Peter...
Close comes straight from UC and he has continued to tell me this since the beginning of Jan. However, we must all realize that unless things are 100% ready to go using the 3rd quarter financials and everything else that must also go into the filing...Roger Glenn cannot submit it to the SEC. 120 days from the end of the quarter is the cutoff, ie end of Jan., or the 3rd quarter financials become purely historical. Then UC and team would have to use 4th quarter, which then moves the time flag to a new deadline of April 30th. I am only using the timelines to help people understand the 120 day rule difference between current vs historical.
Now with Sarbanes Oxley all those involved in the various components to bring about a finished filing package are legally responsible for their input. Also, UC must have his Board of Directors in place and also his Governance Board which must be weighted with non-director people. Additionally we don't know what we are getting for a filing. Will it be just CMKX or will it be a CMKX/CIM, or a smorgasbord including more of the associated companies? I certainly don't know but there is enough rumor and spec. between shareholders to keep everyone thinking 24 hrs. a day, and some do just that!!
What I do know is I have complete faith in Mr. Casavant, Roger Glenn, and the rest of the executive team responsible for the filing's completion and the ongoing management. Patience is all we have in supporting fellow shareholders to stay the course and not rely on certain dates as absolute until the TEAM makes it happen. The "quiet" period is something every company must place itself in during this process and therefore UC is precluded from saying anything from the "operational" side of the company. The 75 bill. PR in Dec. was to do with "structure" and was OK for him to reveal to shareholders.
What I promise not to do is mislead people by naming firm dates or commenting directly on rumors or spec born by shareholders. Urban is fully aware of the shareholder stress, but he must run the company first and please the shareholders second. That way I truly believe EVERYONE will win!
Best regards and thank you for your support.
Andy Hill
==========================================
I emailed him back to ask if I can post this , I've been waiting an hour ,but it clears up the issue so well that I figured he approve anyway. Yep , I think he does a super job ! I think the barrage of phone reports added to the confusion.
Type: Corporation File Number: C35028-2004 State: NEVADA Incorporated On: December 23, 2004
Status: Initial list of officers filed Corp Type: Regular
Resident Agent: JASON E. DHONAU (Accepted)
Address: 5024 SAINT ANNES DRIVE
LAS VEGAS NV 89149-
President: JASON E. DHONAU
Address: 5024 SAINT ANNES DRIVE
LAS VEGAS NV 89149-
Secretary: JASON E. DHONAU
Address: 5024 SAINT ANNES DRIVE
LAS VEGAS NV 89149-
Treasurer: JASON E. DHONAU
Address: 5024 SAINT ANNES DRIVE
Domain Name: BLACKSHEEPDESIGNGROUP.COM
Created on: 10-Jan-05 Expires on: 10-Jan-06 Last Updated on: 10-Jan-05
Wild Spec-o-lation
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 6:33 pm
rdelp
Site Admin
Joined: Jun 09, 2003
Posts: 68
They always sound good... taken from Ragingbull
Tender / Merger / IPO:
[Disclaimer: First of all, this is the first stock I have performed extensive DD on. I may not interpret the P.R.s in the same fashion as you. I surely analyze data different than you. My math may be wrong. I may accidentally leave significant figures out of equations. I may place importance on press releases that you would not, and vice versa. I am not an investment advisor or any kind of analyst of stocks. I simply appreciate the efforts of various stock talk boards to form theories and to speculate. I want to share ideas too. It is far from factual, but I think its how you stay ahead of the game. I welcome all comments, critical or complimentary, as it will help to polish my thoughts. Enjoy, but remember – whether you like the thoughts or not... do your own DD. If you rely on any of this to make any kind of decisions without DD of your own then you are a goof. Clear enough. Lets get rolling:]
Read the P.R.s and bear with me.
The P.R.s state clearly on 1/13/03 that the restructuring plan outlined on 1/7/03 was approved. That includes the mandatory 8% dividend of the total number of shares exchanged with the new target company, and the mandatory 10% cash dividend policy. If this is not the case then the company needs to post clarification, IMO.
First Analysis] 8% Share Dividend: I will only use CIM as an example of my thought process. You can plug the numbers in for the rest.
CMKX acquired 40 Billion shares for $1M. The MANDATORY 8% dividend policy means that 3.2 billion will be distributed to CMKX shareholders with CMKX retaining 36.8 Billion shares (92%).
25,600 CIM / 1,000,000 CMKX was the distribution. [.0256] And to distribute 3.2 Billion (8%) at .0256 would mean that there WAS an O/S of 125 Billion. [3,200,000,000 / .0256 = 125,000,000,000]. So, examining the P.R.s tells me there should have been an O/S of 125 Billion on the record date of the CIM dividend.
Second Analysis] 10% Cash Dividend: There is no way to calculate this. But we know it is mandatory. And CMKX owns part of UCAD which owns most of Yellow River which I believe announced its first shipment of gold months ago. Who knows how many more shipments if any at all we have had since then. So we can “assume” that we as CMKX shareholders are due 10% cash dividend, on profits it gets from UCAD’s interest in that gold. And who knows what other sources of income CMKX has? We get a MANDATORY 10% of it all. The other questions are... when is the record date? Shareholders at end of 2004? At the end of each quarter? And how often? Quarterly? Annually? But what seems to be out of the question is NOT getting a cash dividend at all IMO. After all... the P.R.s tell us it is MANDATORY!
Now, what of the 92% equity CMKX holds in its coffers of shares in other companies? And what of the 90% of the cash it retains? We have clues. Regarding the cash: UCAD has an interest in CMKX and their value went from the hundreds of dollars in the last filing to millions of dollars in the most recent filing! From CMKX? I dunno. Regarding the shares: The P.R.s state that “the share dividend policy reflects the Company's acquisition strategy that identifies undervalued take-over targets in mineral resource and related businesses. The Company is currently evaluating 7 companies...” (1/7/03) And when stating their intent to “acquire Juina Mining Corp. (Pink Sheets:GEMM) a diamond mining company with working interests in producing diamond fields in Brazil” they added that “This is the first in many targeted acquisitions and roll-ups of existing diamond and other mineral resources companies.” Also, on (2/24/03) the company stated: “The Company is moving ahead with its proposed merger talks. The purpose of this reorganization is eventually to move the Company into a stronger position to enable it to consider moving ahead into the larger capital pools.” Ahem! – Don’t larger capital pools usually lurk in higher exchanges than pinks and OTCBB?
So there you have it. Only 8% of the shares were distributed, we can expect a 10% mandatory cash dividend, and acquisitions that CMKX retains 92% of will be rolled up into a new company. MAYBE on a larger exchange. All right there in the P.R.s.
Now, those are facts from P.R.s with my theory and math woven into them (or vice versa). All of it should be considered theory and you should form your own theories by reviewing the facts yourself. From here on out I will be SPECULATING.
The company said at least 3 times in P.R.s that the company intends to retire all shares back to the treasury. It said so over and over. Driving the point home. Urban was saying... wake up shorty... get off the tracks... the train is coming into the station. I think Urban wants to take the company private to clear up the Naked Short mess before doing the roll-up he referred to the in the P.R. But obviously at least a few billion will be sitting in certificate form in private small investor hands. A million here and a million there. The only thing to do is tender offer for those certs left out there. Maybe using the 90% in revenues it retained after the 10% dividend. Maybe some other source... I cannot explain that part. I know who pays for the electronic street shares that are counterfeit though — SHORTY.
Icing on the cake is that we already have a stake in the new IPO by the MANDATORY 8% dividends and he is not giving us a choice but to be a part of the wealth by restricting them... to keep us from shooting ourselves in the foot by selling them pre-IPO.
Final Disclaimer: I don’t know any insiders or any insider information. I read the P.R.s. This is my theory and speculation based on these P.R.s. Every time I read the P.R.s I learn something new that I missed before and I get new theories and speculations... I encourage you to do it too. And share it with the board. Besides bickering at each other day after day... exchanging these ideas is all we can do in times of quiet...
What do you think?
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE – BELOW ARE THE PRESS RELEASES I REFERENCED:
12/4/02: “Casavant Mining Kimberlite International Inc. (OTCBB:CMKI) announced today a Letter of Intent to acquire Juina Mining Corp. (Pink Sheets:GEMM) a diamond mining company with working interests in producing diamond fields in Brazil... This is the first in many targeted acquisitions and roll-ups of existing diamond and other mineral resources companies.” [this was terminated/scrapped in 03 per PR]
12/16/02: “Casavant Mining Kimberlite International (OTCBB:CMKI ) announced today that negotiations are underway to acquire 60% of the common shares in Dia Bras Exploration, Inc., a Canadian diamond exploration company with projects in Canada and the Republic of Guinea, West
Africa.... This is another important purchase of stock for equity participation of CMKI shareholders." [this, too, was terminated/scrapped in 03 per PR]
12/22/02: “Casavant has signed a letter of intent to purchase a producing diamond mine in Brazil and has targeted four acquisitions, which will become part of the company... In the first quarter of 2003, Casavant will declare capital stock dividends to shareholders of at least 8% of its holdings of each of the target acquisitions.... CMKI will pay 10% in cash dividends for three years.”
12/31/02: “David Bending, president of Juina Mining Corporation, is a nominee for president of CMKI, which will be among the matters to be considered at the AGM.... The South American diamond fields are expected to be a major source of income for the company.”
[* in mergers you commonly see company officials merging into official capacities in the resulting new entity. Merger of GEMM and CMKI? You tell me... ]
1/7/03: “CMKI has been informed that majority shareholders plan on holding their shares in certificate form indefinitely... CMKI... plans on approving at its majority shareholder meeting a mandatory share and cash dividend policy. The share dividend policy reflects the Company's acquisition strategy that identifies undervalued take-over targets in mineral resource and related businesses. The Company is currently evaluating 7 companies.... CMKI believes that its shareholders and the targeted company's shareholders will best benefit from a "cross-dividend" policy. For example, if CMKI acquires a new target company in an exchange of shares, CMKI will pay its shareholders a mandatory 8% dividend of the total number of shares exchanged with the new target company. The shareholders of the new target company will be treated with the same fairness and therefore will be entitled to receive a mandatory 8% dividend of the total number of CMKI shares exchanged with the new target company.... Further, CMKI has structured its mandatory 10% cash dividend policy (which is based on its net earnings) to benefit those shareholders of record on the declared dividend date.” [You may want to read this last one again.]
1/13/03: “The Company and its transfer agent have confirmed that a majority of shareholders will be present either in person or by proxy. These majority shareholders have prior to the meeting expressed an affirmative consensus approving the restructuring of the Company.”
[* shareholders approved the restructuring stated in 1/7/03 PR above... including MANDATORY 8%/10% dividend policies]
2/14/03: “Casavant Mining Kimberlite International (OBB.CMKM) is pleased to announce it has commenced negotiations to reorganize its business, in conjunction with another Bulletin Board publicly trading company. The details of merger are currently being considered by both boards once proposed final share exchange figures are initially approved by the two companies.”
2/18/03: Proposed Merger: “The Company has moved forward with the reorganization announced Feb 14, 2003...”
2/24/03: “The Company is moving ahead with its proposed merger talks. The purpose of this reorganization is eventually to move the Company into a stronger position to enable it to consider moving ahead into the larger capital pools.”
9/19/03: “Casavant Mining Kimberlite International (Pink Sheets:CMKM) has reached an agreement for $900,000 in funding with three junior mining exploration companies. CMKI grants the options to United Carina Resources (CDNX-UCA-V) (www.unitedcarina.com), Consolidated Pine Channel Gold (CDNX-KPG-V) (www.pinechannel.com) and Shane
Resources (CDNX-SEI-V) the right to acquire an undivided 10% interest each in 82 prospective claims held by the Company in consideration for the $900,000 in funding.”
10/10/03: “Urban Casavant, President of Casavant Mining Kimberlite International (Pink Sheets: CMKM) announced today that the company has approved the retirement of 9,020,371,427 shares of CMKM stock. This retirement of stock was approved unanimously by the board of directors to create greater value to its shareholders by reducing the amount of shares issued by the company. The company plans to retire all shares of stock back to the treasury.”
10/20/03: “Urban Casavant, President of Casavant Mining Kimberlite International (Pink Sheets: CMKM) announced today that the company has approved the retirement of another 4.4 billion shares for a total 13,420,371,427 shares of CMKM stock to date... The company plans to retire all shares of stock back to the treasury. As soon as all dividend shares have been accounted for by the DTC from the CMKM stock split, the total amount of shares issued minus shares retired will be announced.”
11/6/03: “Urban Casavant, President of Casavant Mining Kimberlite International (Pink Sheets: CMKM) announced today that the company has approved the retirement of another 6.7 billion shares for a total of over 20 Billion shares of CMKM stock to date.... The company plans to retire all shares of stock back to the treasury.”
11/20/03: “CMKM is also negotiating with three other public companies to further expand and enhance new drill targets in the Forte a la Corne area. Details of new agreements will be announced shortly.”
12/17/03: “Casavant Mining Kimberlite International (Pink Sheets: CMKM) announced today that the company has officially retired 16,520,477,200 shares of CMKM stock back to the Treasury. Urban Casavant... stated, "This is a huge step to create greater shareholder value by reducing the amount of shares issued of CMKM by over 16.5 billion shares. We also plan to retire more shares back to the treasury as soon as all necessary paper work is completed."
12/17/03: “Casavant Mining International, Inc. (CMI) is currently private but will announce its plan
to go public by Friday, December 19, 2003.”
12/19/03: “If a CIM/MRDR exchange is approved, CIM will become a wholly owned subsidiary of MRDR.... The shareholders of CIM would each receive a share in MRDR in exchange for their shares in CIM. Should the CIM/MRDR exchange fail to pass due diligence then an alternative exchange will be undertaken with a different suitor to achieve the same result for the CIM shareholders.”
12/29/03: “Casavant Mining Kimberlite International announced today that the company is evaluating two offers from public companies for a partial buyout of selected mining claims.”
* [as you can see below, this was SGGM and UCAD]
1/9/04: “(CMKM) announced today that the company has approved the retirement of an additional 1.8 billion shares of CMKM stock. The company plans to retire these shares of stock back to the treasury to create greater shareholder value.”
7/18/04: “U.S. Canadian Minerals Inc. will be purchasing 5% of all mineral claims held by CMKM Diamonds, Inc. in exchange for 7.5 million shares of UCAD. CMKM Diamonds, Inc. will later issue these shares to all shareholders of record on August 20, 2004.... UCAD has a 1 year option agreement to purchase an additional 10% interest of... CMKM Diamonds, Inc. for a total of $15 million U.S. dollars payable to CMKM Diamonds, Inc.”
*[ Funny... UCAD only had less than $2000 in the bank according to the previous filing.]
7/19/04: “Ron Casavant CEO, and Dave Desormeau Secretary/Treasurer, of Casavant International Mining (CIM) said... The company also plans to become a publicly-reporting company." [Read this again— CIM will be reporting!]
7/29/03: “CMKM Diamonds Inc. announced today that it has purchased common stock equating to 25% of the outstanding shares of Juina Mining Corp. for $500,000.... In addition, GEMM has issued an option to CMKX to purchase shares equivalent to an additional 24% of the outstanding shares in GEMM for an additional $500,000.”
8/2/04: “CMKM Diamonds Inc.... has elected to distribute the 95,502,027 shares of Juina Mining Corp... as a dividend to its shareholders....GEMM has issued a 60-day option to CMKX to purchase... an additional 24% of the outstanding shares in GEMM for an additional $500,000 USD.... the company has elected to distribute this additional 127,336,036 as a dividend....”
9/2/04: “CMKM Diamonds Inc.... has finalized a joint venture agreement where St. George Metals, Inc. (SGGM) will purchase a 5%...interest in any and all mineral claims held by CMKM Diamonds, Inc. in consideration for $10,000,000 US Dollars and two hundred billion (200,000,000,000) restricted shares of SGGM. The Company has received a $2,500,000 payment with three additional payments of $2,500,000 anticipated within the next 30 days.”
12/18/04: “CMKM Diamonds, Inc. announced today that it has repurchased the 75 billion shares of the common stock stocks issued to Nevada Minerals, Inc. in July of 2004 to acquire mineral rights in Saskatchewan, Canada.”
- - - - -
Interesting post from tuscansun on millionaires board on his visit to USCA office after Vegas party.
Re: End of January could be our date !!!!!!
? Reply #3 on: Today at 13:59:59 ?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would be the first to ask that same question.
I was in the office after the October Party.
Thanked Rendall for the very nice event that
previous Saturday and he just volunteered
the comment.....'Oh, Thats nothing like the
Party in February...THAT one will have
everyone Celebrating..'....not verbatum but
the whole idea of his sentence...(that I was
certainly not expecting)...was that there
would be something grand for people to be
celebrating about.
I had no idea what I was really going to ask
when I entered the office except to start
by a thank you for the event.
He volunteered that he had a 8 hour deposition
to prepare immediately for the SEC...and that
the material that they had to present would
make the SEC happy. (in my words - I forget
the EXACT words he used..)
He also said that they had good news they
had wanted to tell everyone at the Party
but were silenced (as everyone now knows).
This is a repeat of posts made previously but
this thread is now way over 3000 strong and
some may not have read the prior post.
I have heard no where else and didn't before
my meeting with Rendall about a February
Party so I understand that it is my word and
no one has validation of anything anywhere
else. For all we know there will be nothing
to celebrate in February if April 30 becomes
the file date.
? Last Edit: Today at 14:00:48 by tuscansun ? Logged
email from Jason Dhonau (stolen from RB)
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 7:57 pm
rdelp
Site Admin
Joined: Jun 09, 2003
Posts: 68
Below is an email reply I recieved today from Jason Dhonau:
Thank you for your inquiry about CMKM Diamonds. We are currently switching servers over from the previous provider to us, which will cause the websites to be down for the next few days. For now, we are going to be fixing the websites (debugging and updating) and making them fully operational. In the near future, the websites will be redone with input from visitors like yourself. As far as CMKM Diamonds, all of us here at Black Sheep Design Group are very familiar with the company and its potential.
We are a new design company, but all of our employees have, or are working towards, degrees in this field with years of experience managing large corporate design accounts. We’re currently developing our website, but all of our attention for the next few weeks will be managing www.casavantmining.com and www.cmkxtreme.com. People can probably expect our website to be up in March sometime. Our corporate office is located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Again, thank you.
Black Sheep Design Group
CANADA AND FALC ARTICLE - MUST READ:
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 5:11 pm
rdelp
Site Admin
Joined: Jun 09, 2003
Posts: 68
CANADA AND FALC ARTICLE - MUST READ:
Ottawa set to polish up diamond trade
By SIMON TUCK
From Friday's Globe and Mail
Ottawa — The federal government is set to announce that it has
reached a deal to provide new money to train aboriginal Canadians for
the bustling diamond industry in the Northwest Territories, although
industry officials say much more needs to be done if Canada is to
seize its chance to become a diamond powerhouse.
Canada, which has only two active diamond mines, has already
leapfrogged ahead of South Africa to become the world's No. 3
producer of diamonds, based on total value of mining production. Many
in the industry, however, say Canada has a golden chance to become
No. 1 over the next 10 to 15 years, but won't be able to take full
advantage of the opportunity unless many more skilled workers —
particularly cutters and polishers — can be trained.
"We're so short of trades, it's frightening," said Hilary Jones,
general manager of Arslanian Cutting Works NWT Ltd., a diamond
processing company in Yellowknife.
The deal with a consortium of parties, including the Northwest
Territories government, calls for Ottawa to chip in $14.9-million
toward a total budget of $40-million. The agreement will likely be
announced after MPs resume sitting in Parliament at the end of this
month.
Government officials say more money for training will be on the way,
if it's needed.
"We're not going to miss out on the opportunity to be world leaders,"
former human resources and skills development minister Joe Volpe said
recently. "If we're going to be world leaders in diamond mining and
other [areas of mining], this is a great first step."
The agreement, expected to create 380 long-term jobs, is worded so
that the money could be used to train people in any corner of the
mining sector, but it's geared toward polishing, cutting and other
skills associated with the diamond industry.
Industry and government officials say diamonds will create hundreds,
or even thousands, of good-paying jobs in the coming years.
Ken Donnelly, who works in the aboriginal affairs directorate of
Human Resources and Skills Development, said the industry is already
strong enough to provide a high-paying job for any Northwest
Territories resident who gets trained. "The demands are that high."
But many involved in the industry say Ottawa needs to do more if
Canada's diamond sector is going to reach its vast potential.
"It all depends on the federal government," said Mike Botha, a master
polisher with almost four decades in the diamond industry and
developer of the diamond skills program at Aurora College in
Yellowknife. "If they want to grow the industry, they can — it
doesn't seem they have the will."
Both active Canadian diamond mines — Ekati and Diavik — are located
near Yellowknife, with three more expected to open in the next few
years in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Northern Ontario.
Mr. Botha says the wild card is the Fort a la Corne area of central
Saskatchewan because it has the world's largest known diamond deposit
and could make Canada the world's clear leader in the industry.
The two existing mines already produce about $1.7-billion worth of
diamonds a year and employ about 2,200 people. Diamonds represent the
Northwest Territories' top industry and have attracted big names such
as global giant De Beers of South Africa, international retailer
Tiffany's, and scores of smaller players.
"Canada is a hot spot in the world for exploring for diamonds," said
Martin Irving, director of the territorial government's diamond
project. But it's not just a question of opening mines, industry
officials say, or training cutters and polishers. There's also the
potential to create new companies and oodles of jobs in the retail,
tourism, and perhaps most importantly, exploration wings of the
industry.
"Canada is heavily staked, but it's not heavily explored," Mr. Botha
said.
The other key to taking full advantage of the diamond opportunity is
to ensure that the gems that are mined in Canada, particularly the
more valuable ones, are also processed here.
As it stands now, officials say, more than 50 per cent of Canadian
diamonds are exported.
Mr. Botha suggests Ottawa consider four proposals to solve that
problem and others: More money for skills training; further
limitations on the exporting of unfinished, large diamonds; tax
incentives; and import duties.
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