Representatives from Canada's diamond mining industry and the local aboriginal communities held a lively discussion on Monday at the onset of the annual Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Conference held in Toronto, highlighting the need for better relations between the two parties.

MiningWeekly.com reported that during the conference's plenary session, Chief Phil Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations made a direct appeal to the leaders of the diamond mining and exploration industry to improve relations and cooperation.

The two sides have clashed in the past mainly because diamond mining developers were not required to notify local communities of their plans to explore lands that are often owned by aboriginal communities.

Recently, the province of Ontario proposed changing this policy, thereby allowing aboriginal communities to be notified and consulted every time a claim is staked and plans are made to conduct exploration activities within their lands.

In his remarks, Fontaine said that the aboriginal communities he represents are not adverse to development and exploration, as they can also benefit from the presence of the diamond industry on or near their lands.

"We are pro-development, we want development, but in a way that respects our unique interests and is sustainable," Fontaine said, adding that both the diamond mining industry and the local communities have much to gain from cooperating, mainly from the aspect of a dependable workforce.

Anthony Hodges, President of the International Council on Mining and Metals, said that both sides need to make a bigger effort to understand one another.