(April 11, 2013) - (Check against delivery)

Good afternoon: Chairman Gannicott, Premier McLeod, colleagues, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. It is a pleasure to join you today for this important announcement.

First, let me take this opportunity to congratulate Dominion Diamond Corporation on the announcement that we are celebrating today. This is a very important day for the Northwest Territories Mining Industry.  I am sure I speak for all of us when I say we are looking forward to moving forward with you and to discovering what our new future holds.

That said, I would like to take some time today to also look back – and thank BHP for its many contributions to the NWT diamond industry - and the role it has played in establishing the NWT as a leader in the global diamond industry. In coming years, Dominion Diamond Corporation and those companies that will follow it to the NWT will have some big shoes to fill.  BHP Billiton has been a valuable business leader in the NWT, having developed and operated the very first Canadian diamond mine – and in doing so shaping our NWT diamond industry. Thanks in part to what has been achieved at the Ekati Mine, Canada now stands as the third-largest diamond producer, by value,  in the world.

Along the way, BHP has also been a strong supporter of a wide range of fundraising efforts and community projects and initiatives – setting a new bar in our Territory for what it means to be a good corporate citizen.

Change is a necessary step in the progression of any sector of our economy – but I would like to assure the residents of the NWT that the agreements negotiated between BHP our government and our communities remain in place – and through them, the benefits that Ekati has brought to the NWT will continue to infuse and support our economy for years to come. I thank Dominion Diamond Corporation for their commitment: that while the ownership of Ekati may be changing hands, there has not been, and will not be, any changes to the level of commitments made and demonstrated to the people of the NWT.

As it expands its NWT diamond activities, Dominion Diamond Corporation will be working closely with the GNWT, our residents, businesses and of course - our communities.  Already, I am happy to say: the Government of the Northwest Territories has been able to establish a solid relationship with Dominion and I am look forward to continuing to work closely with its Chairman and CEO Bob Gannicott.

We expect – and are working to ensure - that the transition at Ekati, and in the NWT diamond industry, will be a smooth one for everybody concerned – Ekati’s operators, its employees and its family of northern suppliers.

As we welcome Dominion Diamond Corporation’s expanded role in the NWT diamond industry, I am also pleased to highlight the confidence that this Canadian company is showing in the Northwest Territories. Today’s announcement is an indicator of the strength that still exists in our diamond industry here in the North - that the interest in uncovering new diamond deposits in the NWT remains strong - and the ongoing importance of NWT diamonds in the global marketplace.

It is through companies like Dominion Diamond Corporation that the potential of the Ekati Mine will continue to prove itself – both in terms of value and life span. This sale reflects a firm beliefs that the ultimate potential of the Slave Geological Province area has not yet been fully realized, and that the future of diamonds and mining in the NWT remains bright.

Thank you.