Transportation around Toronto, including the subway extension to the east, is PM Wynne priority, since she seems to listen to vocal Torontonians. But, if nothing is done about the transportation corridor to the RoF, she may lose a few key ridings up north. Hope that she realized this potential outcome.

Reportedly, the Prov. under the previous Premier, was in favour of CLF road proposal and was willing to match the $600M contribution from CLF to build a private roads for monster trucks which which chew up the road quite quickly and this would require constant expensive maintenance.

To most people, miners and ordinary folks, the RR is the way to go for bulk (and passengers, and passenger cars) transportation. With the ruling of the Mining and Lands Commissioner's ruling against CLF for its easement application, this is a golden opportunity for the current Premier to step up to bring the parties together and put some money on the table.

The cost for the RR is not that much ($1.5B compared to about $1B for the road), what's $1.5B in the big scheme. Bill Gates alone can build this whole thing (as an indicator, his holding in CN amounts to 12% or $4.7B). Yup, he will quickly recognize this as a cash cow. Perhaps I should give him a call so that he can tell CN to do something, or he can have a little chat with the Premier or PM Harper.

While Bill is at it, he could throw in a bit more money for KWG to build an operate a value-added facility (PyroMet Upgrading furnace) near the railhead (say at the south end of the RR for the ROF) to convert the raw chromite in something that can fetch more $$$. Reportedly, there are examples indicating that this is a lucrative business (another cash cow). It's also less expensive and more eco-friendly. This facility would be equivalent to the electric arc smelter ( CLF proposed for the Sudbury area (Capreol is some 30m N of Sudbury). This plant would create employment for a few hundred workers and should go well with the Provincial Government.

It may be convenient to have a half-size service road for commuters and light service trucks to be built along side the RR. With a lot more money available for the RR, the Province can use some of the $600M for the service road which is needed for servicing the RR infrastructure and other things such as power transmission, telecommunication network, etc...

Go for it Premier Wynne! There are other fishes around, not just CLF.

goldhunter