Seahawks: "Didn't see any reference to funding or timeline in the news??????" Exactly.
I concur with Globe?: 'Monday’s announcement included no cash for the road, last estimated to cost $1.6-billion – only a pledge to study it."
Noront: "to advance planning and DEVELOPMENT of a proposed Northern Road Link" My capitalization because I saw only Noront to say Development.
I doubt that anyone is trying to keek the price down but merely a reaction to lack of substance in the releases.

While am still optimistic with: "I saw it go from . 40 cents to 5 bucks in afternoon!"
Had the news release said that the road path is settled. Matters not E-W or N-S. Resultant sp would spike to at least 1.20 instead of dipping to 0.12.
Had they said that so and so would build the road then add a dollar to that sp spike.
Had they added a specific date for start then add a few more dollars.
Finally had they said that the funding is such and such then sp goes to 20 bucks and probably would not see below ten $s for years to come. That is how I see it. However my opinion matters not. Present sp says it all. While volume traded reflects merely optimism and hope.

Oh this: Chief Chris Moonias of Neskantaga First Nation said the community has not been consulted and that the road crosses a river in their traditional territory: “The community will decide what they’re going to do. They have already said a lot of times that if they have to go out to the land and protect the river, they will.”
Am I wrong?, this N-S route through Marten Falls has nothing to do with said river. And a while back some of the communities did receive  several hundred thousand $s for consultation and planning.
I can only interpret this as an attempt to black mail for cash.