"Mr Gravelle has said nothing for over a year"

Or much longer than that?

Only excuse I can think of is that there is not much to say until agreements are made. If one or both participants to a possible agreement want too much then we have an impass.

Assumint it is the natives, should he state so publicly and perhaps in doing so sabotage any possibility of an agreement?

YES I am digging for an excuse of which he does not seem to deserve. As every one here says, we are mushrooms in the dark and it should not be so as investors and taxpayers in this province.