Hi Cappy,

Frank could not say it all. The swap is just one of the many variations which have presumably been kicked back and forth among their own "strategists" on both sides and trial balloons have been released via intermediaries, or even directly btween the two big fellows (it looks like both sides are in speaking term).

Some up-front funding would be expected to be part of the transportation corridor, which in my opinion would include both all weather roads and the RR, running in parallel. Perhaps we should say paved roads, since who can control the weather in that part of the province.

The Prov and the Fed (current fed gov seems to be pro northern development). But the paved roads are for perhaps mainly the northern FN communities and for small supplies and would serve as service roadd for the RR (Canda is still a car-country, not RR-country for the people)CLF in its plan for BT set aside $600M for the proposed roads (but they have not staked out their claim and have any permission to build any roads). Besides, the RR is better for transporting ores and other heavy stuff...as they have indicated). So, their road vision could be modified in a heart beat! Ditto with the mining of BT first. They can change their plan to mine BD first in a heart beat...and nobody, especially KWG, will sue them).

There are so many possible variations during the negotiation between KWG and CLF, and ore swap is just one of them. BTW, the Fed money does not have to be from the 3P program. If the governments see the incentives they will find the money. The Fed just gave the Sept-Isle port people some $5M grant to upgrade one of the piers...and 22 prefab homes for the Atawamiskat FN folks. Of course, their delivery is limited by the ice road capability from Moosonee (the ice road going toward De Beers Victor mine). This illustrates the need for pave roads to Ontario Far North. This is also a political brownie point for the Ont gov. So, the ducks are lning up. By the way, KWG corridor is in parnership with the FN folks and the Far North communities.

goldhunter