"It only makes sense that the Feds are indeed waiting for the "business plan" to be fully elucidated, before commiting funding. To do so otherwise would be political suicide."

It would be suicide only if the Feds handed the money over without a plan and guarantee that the money would be spent appropriately.

What I and some here are saying, do the equivalent of what the province has done. Say Yes and then disburse the payments as the plans are provided and development progresses.

What must come first, the chicken or the egg?