Two potentially important Canadian projects, which could have produced revenues in the billions and jobs in the tens of thousands, have now been officially abandoned and the reasons offered by both relate to the economic impossibility of successfully negotiating all the regulatory obstacles that have been presented.

...controversy and animosity seem to be steadily increasing, quite possibly to the benefit of our precious metals as gold is now resting comfortably above $1,300—the highest level in more than two years as of mid-February.