Well Cinema Show, you beat me to it.

The reason it hasn't lifted Noront yet is because many somehow think it hurts the road over rail argument, when in fact, as you say, it pretty much confirms that east/west is a go. I expect to hear something relatively soon actually. Road to start things off, and rail long term. People got it in their minds that if easement wasn't granted to cliffs it meant road wasn't coming and we'd have to wait for rail. This couldn't be further from the truth, Noront only supported the north/south corridor because cliffs was mostly paying for it. The second cliffs pulled out, noronts "plan b" (which was actually plan a) became boss. It was by far the easiest sell to gov, FN and so forth.

All that is left is the formal announcement.

djje