Two of the companies involved in a proposed diamond mine in northeastern Saskatchewan are reaching out to communities that could be involved.
Rio Tinto and Star Diamond Corporation are looking at moving ahead with a diamond mine in the Fort a la Corne area.
Representatives from both companies were in Prince Albert Wednesday night for an open house meeting on the project.
Gary Hodgkinson, an official with Rio Tinto, says the companies fully realize expectations are high around the project but they want to ensure they remain realistic.
“Everybody’s obviously very enthusiastic about knowing what the future might be,” he says. “We can’t predict that but we just want to make sure everyone has enough information to understand what the opportunities could be but also to keep that expectation level, well matched to the reality of what the situation is.”
The James Smith Cree Nation is currently speaking out against the project saying it was not properly consulted on the province’s approval of an environmental assessment.
Hodgkinson says one of the goals of holding the public meetings is also to bring local communities on board, including Indigenous ones, but admits there can be challenges.
“I think it would be fool hardy of us to think that we can get everybody in absolute full agreement but we do need to make sure that we have the right people supporting this project.”
Rio Tinto and Star Diamond Corporation are in Melfort for another open house Thursday before heading to Nipawin on Friday.
Fort a la Corne is located about 60 kilometres east of Prince Albert.
(PHOTO: An official with Rio Tinto fields questions at an open house meeting in Prince Albert on the proposed Fort a la Corne diamond mine project. Photo by Fraser Needham.)