Found this on the Kinross SH board ... not sure if posted here yet.

This article references the statement from Chiriboga that the new mining law will not be introduced until after the referendum:

"Chiriboga said a long-awaited mining law that will lift the ban is expected to be introduced after September when Ecuadoreans vote on a new constitution that would boost Correa's control over the country's natural resources."

EXCLUSIVE-UPDATE 1-Ecuador says Kinross-Aurelian deal positive
8 hours ago - Reuters
(Adds minister quote, details, background and link)

By Alonso Soto

QUITO, July 25 (Reuters) - Ecuadorean Oil and Mines Minister Galo Chiriboga on Friday said Kinross Gold Corp's K.TO offer to buy Aurelian Resources Inc ARU.TO is a positive signal of foreign investment and the government doesn't need to approve the deal.
Kinross on Thursday offered C$1 billion ($990 million) to buy Aurelian, which owns Fruta del Norte gold deposit in southern Ecuador. The deposit is one of the largest in the world.

However, investors are jittery over a mining suspension that halted exploration. The suspension also revoked hundreds of concessions in a move to pacify an industry plagued by sometimes violent clashes between anti-mining communities and mining workers.

Several analysts said Kinross offer was too low and shows lingering uncertainty in a country where leftist President Rafael Correa has moved ahead with plans rework oil and mining deals to boost state revenues.

Chiriboga said a long-awaited mining law that will lift the ban is expected to be introduced after September when Ecuadoreans vote on a new constitution that would boost Correa's control over the country's natural resources.

"This shows that the image of the country abroad is positive in terms of foreign investment," Chiriboga told Reuters in a telephone interview. "This is a negotiation between two private companies in which the state has no role."

Dozens of foreign mining companies exploring for precious metals in the Andean country are anxious for details of a new mining law that is key to the nascent sector worth billions of dollars in gold, silver and copper deposits.

The draft mining law lifts limits on the total area companies can explore and will not require private miners to create joint ventures with the state, government officials said.

But companies are still worried over a windfall tax that forces miners to hand over 70 percent of their extra revenue to the state above a set mineral price.