The assessment by Dolphin is brief, to the point and entirely sensible. Many who fancy themselves as business "experts" are constantly leaving out rather significant parts of the equation because they assess and track only the money. All of the best and most successful businesses and business people also consider those things which help generate the money. This includes people (and yes... the social stuff whether one likes it or not) and infrastructure required by both those people and the businesses that they serve.
Anyone who ignores that side of the equation does so at the peril of their business. It may be noted here that both Noront and Cliffs are paying very close attention to all of these aspects of their developing opportunities. They both understand very well that no business runs without people or infrastructure and also that these two are not mutually exclusive. The government understands this as well and so one can quickly see that there is a rather more complex picture to contend with than simply counting some money. It involves the businesses, governments (3 different levels), communities, infrastructure and a host of other things that could be listed. All of these must, and are, being considered in the complex equation that will be the ring of fire.
As for the road and railroad, nobody is wasting a lot of money and time on the routing and design of these things for nothing. Both of these are receiving much attention because the government and the companies have their own, as well as mutual reasons for wanting them. There is more. The power line routes and options are also very far along in planning and discussion at all levels (including the communities) and these too will be moving ahead in due course. Again, there are multiple reasons at this time for power services to be expanded throughout the north of Ontario and the ring of fire was a catalyst to make it happen sooner than later.
For those who may be unaware, lack of power services to northern communities is a very significant and expensive problem for both the communities and the government. Most of the remote communities are on diesel generated electrical power 24/7, all year long. Rates for residential users are often in the range of 80 or more cents per KWH. This is a spectacularly high cost to run a light bulb or cook a dinner. Many are excited now that the ring of fire can provide the boost that has been needed to follow through with proper service.
I am surprised that this late in the development of the ring of fire we still have people who are so far out of touch as to think that all of the above is not already very far along in the overall planning for the area. It suggests either a lack of due diligence or a rather thinly veiled agenda regarding the stock price.
RHammer
