I feel that the big issue here is not infrastructure, but the FN's. Unless the FN's are on side, building a road or rail might be putting the cart in front of the horse. And although we talk about the Ring being a "once in a generation" opportunity, I think that if the negotiations with the FN's proceed appropriately, that will be an even bigger "once in a generation" step forward. What happens with the FN negotiations may have an effect on the entire country for generations to come.
So although I'm certainly not a fan of the provincial government, I think that if they didn't "get it right" there would be just as much criticism that they rushed things.
Can the liberals announce a commitment to road-building before negotiations with FN's have been completed? That's the big question in my mind. I think that if they announce it in a way that reinforces the concept of the road benefitting FN communities in the region, they can.
I'm glad you wrote that Benjy, it always feels good to vent.