"I can't see anybody agreeing to infastructure funding for any project unless there are some basic guarentees that approvals are moving ahead."

Of course approvals are moving ahead, just at snails pace.

Funding are not linked to approvals granted. That is a mute aspect imo, due to timing differences.
Approvals need to be in place before funding is granted. More so for the funding to be granted some indication of what that funding is needed for, how much it will cost and Paramount is justification for the requested funding.

Approvals can take years but funding could be years After That. One has to come before the other. By the time funding is provided approvales should be a done deed and no longer a condition. Hence linkage no longer present nor needed.

In the case of federal funding the justification is the monetary savings to the government regarding support provided due to lowered costs that a road entails.

I think many on this forum are confusing offers of support with actual funding from the federal government. All Ontario wanted imho was a firm offer of support while federals were hiding behing actual forking over. The two are usually months or often years apart.

I happen to think that TOR was and is delayed by requirements from the natives. Example is some of the present 17 conditions asked by Ontario.

All Is have to be dotted and Ts crossed.