cupcake you wrote:
"Did Alan really mean shovels in the ground in Jan-Feb 2018 in today's interview"
I have listened to this interview more than once and that is the impression I got.
shovels in the ground Jan.Feb. 2018.
Alan Coutts stated :" Advancing roads as we speak."
The initial road(s) announcement was made August 21, 2018.....almost 4 months ago.
Coutts stated: the FN's are now the PROPONENT. This changes all obligations around the consultation and assessment.
When you look at the timeline for the EA so much time is for the consultation period for the public and the Aboriginals which are the same group in this case.
Much of the engineering & studies has been previously done by Noront and Cliffs and you have the gov't wanting the roads and the Proponents wanting the roads...so what is left?
There would be no reason not to put shovels in the ground Jan.-Feb 2018 since no time further time is needed for consultations or public input.