Been harping on Rickford and Ford ofetn on this board. All you have to do is check the background/history of Greg Rickford.  As the saying goes, history may not repeat itself but it does echo.  Ford has used the ROF for political gain and nothing else.  Did he EVER meet with any of the FNs in the last 4 years.  Has he simply sat on and co-opted all the work that was done prior to him becoming Premier but has not moved the needle one inch. When was the last time you heard him or Rickford bring up matched funding from the Feds. They don't because the matched funding requires a specific plan for the ROF which they have as yet provided..because they don't have one. Rickford has been on this file as a federal and provincial minister for almost as long as the ROF has been in existence and is seen as a friend to the FNs.

Can you imagine a Conservative going to his southern Ontario political base saying we're going to spend billions of your tax dollars on a project in the far reaches of north western Ontario which right now is a swamp and will take anywhere from 5-7 years to get into production (which is why they don't have a matched funding plan).  When has a conservative government EVER other than politically supported mining. The mantra in the northern communities has been we support opening up the ROF which will provide jobs and economic advantages to all but do nothing but tinker around the egdes after being elected. 

The thought that Ford would somehow buy into Noront with taxpayer $$ was always a non-starter imo. But with election now on front burner, expect to see the ROF rise again in their platform with bulldozers and cherry blossoms filling the ROF.  They gain need the few northern seats, who incidentally are all in his cabinet, to have any chance to get re-elected.

As far as the EV issue, while Ford was dismantling all the rechrging stations Quebec was increasing their footprint in the industry.  Ford is now championing Ontario EV as part of his political campaign(this is where the ROF promises will re-surface) but as has been pointed out in others previous posts, a lot of the FED $$ has been targeted at a more advanced and provincial government accepted/supported EV industry in Quebec. On a federal level that may enhance the movement to produce the critical raw minerals needed and the ROF should be advantaged.  But on an Ontario provincial government level, they will be just be passengers gaining economically but have little authority.  Wyloo will deal directly with the Feds.

Myself and many others have been on the ROF for years and saw and see the enormous potential.  We often wondered why it hasn't received the acclaim and focus that we have put on it. But we are shareholders and have a biased personal vested interest.  Would we have the same fervent passion if we were not shareholders. My guess is that there are probably 95 -99% of canadians who either don't know or don't really care about the ROF.  And worldwide only 3 major behemoth mining companies have even showed an interest in it - Cliffs, BHP and Wyloo.  And when Cliffs was forced to sell in 2015 at a ridiculously low price, so low that junior miner Noront was able to buy it, no one stepped forward.  That's telling. At that time I divested most of my shares in Noront and bought back in a few years ago. 

Two things I always kept and keep in mind with the ROF.  1)The mining company ownership was only made up of claims and 2) a FN chief saying years ago, when there was the begrudging mining company and government(s)recognized reality that FNs eventually had to be party to any ROF mining in their territory and this was going to result in delays, that the minerals in the ground aren't going anywhere and they weren't going anywhere.  Major steps have been made with more needed but the path and the players seem defined now.

Have to say was surprised at the low retention number.  Appears not even all the BOD and mgmt held a little over 10% chose to retain shares in the new Noront which I would think they did have the option just like all the rest of us. Not sure what that means but I held off looking for some kind of vision staement from Wyloo but suppose they would not be insulted if the squeeze out provision was the end result and take Noront private which was their first offer way back when.

Good luck to all.