I see it as Noront proposing in general the E/W road, the natives have to give their blessing as to what they want pertaining to details of the actual path and at the end Ontario has to take all that into consideration to actually approve it's construction. Perhaps Ontario to let a contract out as to whom is to actually build that road.
HOWEVER, no building contract until sufficient funding is found. Without funding all the above is still bureaucratic talk.

Agree winter road is probably sufficient to bring in the necessary materials to start mine construction. Again However, that winter road permit has to be provided in sufficient time and not as per this past winter.

Bureaucratic wheels have to turn or else.