It's a good question, and while I don't have a comprehensive picture, what I observe is the following:

1. Local magazines have published in depth reports about the continuing mess at the Gian Mine.

2. It is a VERY mining-friendly town. Real estate is through the rough, employment is FULL (12 year olds are employed to serve coffee and work at McDonalds).

3. People idle their SUVs and suburbans at Tim Hortons, and have their economic interests ahead of their environmental consciousness.

4. There is an awareness that the diamon mines will not last forever, and softness in diamons / a high canadian dollar are a threat to being a one-horse town.

5. Local natives, when thier interests and concerns are incorporated into an "economic benefits agreement" are happy. When they are not happy, things still progress if the territorial government wants them. For example, they have started construction on a permanent bridge over the MacKenzie river, to replace the Ferry. SOme native groups criticize the govermnet for committing to it, when they oppose it. But the project is going ahead due to the goverment's having made a commitment...

In closing, my assessment is that a well considered environmental managment/ mitigation plan that also pays due consideration to first nations people (employment, training, and money for their community) will satisfy these concerns. I've looked into these aspects of TDC's application (the previous one, based on underground mining) and find that it is well considered. Clearly Dr. Webb is intimately familiar with this, and knows who the player are and what their hot buttons are. So I am optimisitic that there will be only a few setbacks in the approval / support of the levels of government and first nations. On the other hand, ignorance of the importance of these factors would lead to a rejected proposal, sent back with a "you can start again and make sure to address the following concerns" type of major hickup. Don't think that will happen much to TDC, but expect the occasional one...

SKELEG