"Who are we partnered with, where are they based, do their...

"Who are we partnered with, where are they based, do their ethics line up with us, is the companies management" - Couldn't agree more with this.

If SYA is working this closely with the government, their actions basically represent the Canadian government on the global stage. SYA is different in this sense to their peers in that they are likely more restricted in how and who they conduct business with. SYA cant just turn around and accept a TO bid from a Chinese based company and likely, given the tensions between the western and eastern worlds enter OT's with them.

In relation to the perpetual comments around SYA's poor promotion/marketing, its probable that SYA doesn't partake in the usual pumpy marketing strategies IMO because the Government has specific companies which they want to do business with and as a result, most of the energy that would have been spent on promotion is being spent in securing particular relations behind closed doors.

Given the competing bidders for NAL, all things considered SYA should not have won the bid, but obviously the Canadian government had a hand in it to secure in their view a critical resource asset. Point being SYA is beholden to the Canadian government who are more widely beholden to the western world.

I think its important for people to remember and take these things into account, the Governments wishes e.g. increasing domestic economic growth, securing critical minerals, honouring global relations etc, are limiting and at conflict with the usual goals of a publicly listed company such as SYA, of bringing value to shareholders ASAP through any means.

However, the trade of in my eyes is that in working so close and being a valuable asset to the government you garner favour and are afforded both security and privilege.