Hello LowB, Marnin to you too (actually almost lunch).

Just watch the video myself and noted the budget remark. Perhaps, not during the next 48 hours, but in a few days, e.g. by Monday of next week they would have a budget?

As I understand it, there are many parts (the Premier's words as well) in sorting out the ONTC including the transportation, the rail the roads, etc...within each part there will be sub-parts. Take the EW road as an example, this part has 2 sub-parts: (a) the public highway from Pickle Lake to to Webequie Junction, and (b) the industrial road from Webequie Jct to the Eagle Nest area to be shared between NOT and KWG. This would be a private mining road to get the stuff in to start the development of the Eagle Nest area plus preparation for the extraction of chromite deposits (for KWG it would be BH, and NOT BB?).

Due to the different nature of the use of the industrial road and the public highway there would be two components for the total budget. My guess is as follow:

- Within a few days, NOT and KWG would come up with a total budget as if they were to that by themselves without any outside help (e.g. the government or the Development Corp.).

- They would discuss with the Development Corp/Prov for a 2 way split: The industrial road would be built by NOT and KWG and deep pocket partner (guess who that would be...Hint: it starts with a B). The other portion, the public highway from Pickle Lake to Webequie Jct, would be built under the auspice of the Develp Corp which ONTC may have some part to play besides the RR for the next phase). The financing of this portion could come from government grants, long-term bonds issued by the Develop Corp, etc...This highway would help the develpment of Ont North and several FN communities (good political brownie points for the Prov, and the Feds may want to step in to get some brownies as well).

- The EW road network for the RoF is for the development of the Ni deposits (this is almost ready to go and NOT can make quite a bit of money during some 11 years), then they would drive a ramp down to the chromite deposits to get this bulky/heavy stuff out (they would need the RR for this to get it out from the RoF). This EW road along with the industrial road would facilitate the building of the RR as well (they can build from both N and S ends).

The ball starts rolling down the hill thanks to the good chemistry between Frank and NOT new CEO Coutt (a breath of fresh air, according to Frank).

Just my interpretation from the info we have to-date.

GLTA,

goldhunter