Exhibit 99.1

News release via Canada NewsWire, Toronto 416-863-9350

	    Attention Business Editors:
	    Mountain Province Diamonds Provides Update on Gahcho Kue Project

	    Shares Issued and Outstanding: 59,895,481
	    TSX: MPV
	    AMEX: MDM

	    TORONTO and NEW YORK, Dec. 16 /CNW/ - Mountain Province Diamonds Inc
("the Company") today provided an update on progress at the Gahcho Kue diamond
project in Canada's Northwest Territories, which is a joint venture between
the Company (49%) and De Beers Canada Inc (51%).

	    Resource Drilling
	    Following completion of the 2008 Tuzo bulk sampling program, the Joint
Venture has now concluded the resource drilling at the Gahcho Kue project.
Attention has now turned to completion of updated geology and resource models.

	    Gahcho Kue Geology and Resource Models
	    The Joint Venture has retained AMEC Americas Limited ("AMEC") to produce
a NI 43-101 Technical Report updating the Gahcho Kue geology and resource
models. AMEC will produce an independent report for Mountain Province, which
will be in a form that the Company will be able to release to shareholders.
The updated Technical Report is expected to be completed by the end of the
first quarter of 2009.

	    Proposed Feasibility Study
	    The Joint Venture has received a proposal from an independent engineering
firm to produce a NI 43-101 definitive feasibility study for the Gahcho Kue
project. The proposal is currently under consideration by the Joint Venture
partners.

	    Permitting
	    In view of the proposed feasibility study, the results of which are
expected to impact on the final project description, the Project Operator, De
Beers Canada, has advised the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review
Board that submission of the Gahcho Kue Environmental Impact Statement will be
deferred pending the completion of an updated project description. No fixed
date has been set for completion of the project description.

	    Located in Canada's Northwest Territories, Gahcho Kue is one of the
largest new diamond projects under development globally. The project consists
of a cluster of three primary kimberlites with an indicated resource of
approximately 14.4 million tonnes grading at 1.64 carats per tonne
(approximately 23.6 million carats) and an inferred resource of approximately
17 million tonnes grading at 1.35 carats per tonne (approximately 22.9 million
carats). Gahcho Kue is currently in the permitting stage of development.
Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated
economic viability.
	    Mountain Province Diamonds (49 percent) is a joint venture partner with
De Beers Canada Inc (51 percent) in the Gahcho Kue project. De Beers is the
operator of the project and can be called on to fund the project through to
commercial production.

	    Qualified Person
	    This news release has been prepared under the supervision of Carl G.
Verley, P.Geo., who serves as the qualified person under National Instrument
43-101.

	    Forward-Looking Statements
	    This news release may contain forward-looking statements, within the
meaning of the "safe-harbor" provision of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, regarding the Company's business or financial condition.
Actual results could differ materially from those described in this news
release as a result of numerous factors, some of which are outside the control
of the Company.

	    %CIK: 0001004530

	    /For further information: Mountain Province Diamonds Inc., Patrick Evans,
President and CEO, Tel: (416) 670-5114/
	    (MPV. MDM)

CO:  Mountain Province Diamonds Inc.

CNW 14:52e 16-DEC-08