Yes agreed, Noront can begin probably with as little as 100 million commited for a start. By that I mean that Ontario government needs to let out contracts for road and associated bridges to about that amount.
Then Noront can be sure that things are really happening and Noront can go ahead sending orders towards mine construction.

Forking over actual money is one thing but promissing to fork over is another.
For instance, Ontario already promissed 1 billion $s, but from my inference that promise, in spite of what Ontario says, is conditional on Feds promissing equivalent amount.
( Conditional because "to begin any work" that means to me no dough from them until Conservatives match.)

Deloitte IS necessary for the transfer of at least a partial amount of what is promissed but I believe for the actual guarantee of support that report is not necessary.
I think Feds are playing Poly Ticks to justify delaying a promise.
Ontario Liberals, with election upon us is using it's promise as an argument to 'Vote for Us' because we promised and conservatives do not.

On the other hand, for the payments on the infrastructures, Deloitte alone will not be enough. Plans will have to be put to paper, requests for quotes sent out and associated replies of actual costs will be needed before any real payments are made from both governments.

So now I am mostly Ticked Off with Harper.