A few points I would add, perhaps as a cautionary tone..

1) OCC published essentially the same position doc on the ROF 5 years ago and there has been minimal(being kind here) movement.....

http://www.occ.ca/wp-content/uploads/Beneath_the_Surface_web-1.pdf

2) Rickford was Federal Minister prior and during this time and had minimal(being kind here) affect on ROF progress....

On July 15, 2013, he was appointed the Minister of State (Science and Technology, and Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario).[3]

On March 19, 2014, he was appointed to succeed Joe Oliver as Minister of Natural Resources.[4

3) Rickford's history moving the ROF forward is dismal even when he could have/should have had input/influence with needed federal involvement.  Haven't as yet seen his marching orders from Ford in relation to his capapcity as Minister of Northern Development and Mines but am not overly optimistic based on his history for inaction.