SUM

For a change, on the positive side:

"Steven Harper, in full flight...."excerpt from Globe and Mail editorial friday Mar 22. :-

'The Harper government is also remaining active in infrastructure, but no longer as a series of hurried, expensive, labour-intensive projects to counteract the recession that erupted in 2007-2008. The budget document forthrightly points out that a very large proportion of public infrastructure belongs to provinces, territories and municipalities, but the Conservatives are making clear that the federal government will have a continuing role, with $47-billion in new funding in the course of a decade, starting in the next fiscal year."

I have examined the federal budget for NOT/RoF favourable items. It appears there is only infastructure 3P funding using some new money and more funds in already budgeted but as-yet unspent, unpledged and unspecified projects. I think that this has already begun with the ON/Fed- 3P $250M phase 1 of 2 power transmition line to Pickle Lake. (Phase 2 =Pickle Lake to Webieque to Eagles Nest??).

As in the above G&M excerpt;--- from now on, infastructure funds will go to long term, sustainable projects which have long term, repeatable paybacks in both skilled jobs and government tax revenues (people, corporate) ("no longer as a series of hurried, expensive, labour-intensive projects to counteract the recessions"). I expect that forthcoming provincial budgets (Ontario?) will take this into account and choose only permit ready, shovel ready and long term (ie. mine life/mine region life). Projects with these characteristics will get infastructure monies, with mandatory private sector participation unsing the 3P model to get the goverment funding 3P portion.

The announced targeted skills training programs with 1/3 industry-funded job funding will form both a funding cornerstone contribution for underway FN negotiations/acceptance; but also count towards the total infastructure funding package (federal, provincial, municipal). This value-for-money and jobs for funding money model is also the new funding model for the former CIDA, (now part of Foreign Affairs); and is specifically targeted to mining companies operating in foreign countries: training, hosing; legal/rule of law and jobs. Think of this model imposed on the FN in the RoF.

Then there is the Ontario budget:

There may be an Ontario election before we ever get those clowns at Queens Park back to work. So lets hope its a snap election and the incompetent incumbents are thrown out. Either way, the key NOT infastructure funding will have to come from Ontario and whoever wins the election. Watch for the election promises made and the specific mouths the words are coming from. NOT/Rof will win, but the timeline may be unsatisfactory for some.

Who is most shovel, permit and private financing ready? Noront.

My opinion only;

Peter