It's certainly true that the EW route seems to take priority #2 with the Ont gov., but nobody has come out to say that the EW road is dead. The FNs can continue lobbying the Province, and particularly the Fed, since the Fed may want to take on this development as part of its plan to develop the North and to improve the conditions of the FN communities.
I would read it as follows: Since Ontario can only do one thing at a time, priority #1 is given to the NS corridor (say the NS road), and leave the EW and the RR to the Fed to sort out, noting that the Premier has sent the PM a letter requesting cooperation...somebody, a poster, who has a sharp eye, said they saw roads (in plural form) in the letter. So, hope is still there, hence there would be no need to take any drastic actions. Perhaps, some high level FN leader can pick up the phone and call the PMO to arrange for a meeting with the PM?
goldhunter