Freewest Reminds Shareholders to Vote for Plan of Arrangement With Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

Freewest Resources Canada Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FWR) reminds its shareholders to
vote FOR the proposed Plan of Arrangement with Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.
(NYSE:CLF)(PARIS:CLF) at the special meeting of Freewest shareholders to be held
in Montreal on January 25, 2010. The Plan of Arrangement provides that Freewest
shareholders will receive, for each Freewest share, a fixed amount of $1.00 in
Cliffs shares. The deadline for submitting proxy forms and voting instruction
forms is noon, eastern time, on Thursday, January 21, 2010.


Freewest also announces that both Institutional Shareholders Services Canada
Corp. (RiskMetrics Group) and Glass Lewis & Co., independent proxy advisory
services firms, have issued reports recommending that Freewest shareholders vote
for the proposed Plan of Arrangement with Cliffs.


"We are very pleased that both ISS in Canada and Glass Lewis in the United
States recommend that Freewest shareholders vote for our transaction with
Cliffs," said Mackenzie I. Watson, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Freewest. "ISS and Glass Lewis are leading independent advisory firms. Their
recommendations confirm our view that the transaction with Cliffs is in the best
interests of Freewest and fair to our shareholders" added Mr. Watson.


In recommending that Freewest shareholders vote for the proposed transaction,
Glass Lewis noted that:


- the proposed consideration of $1.00 per Freewest share represents a 52-week
high for Freewest and an overwhelming premium to Freewest's unaffected share
price


- market response to the proposed transaction with Cliffs has been
overwhelmingly positive


- the implied premium to Freewest's unaffected share price (217.4%) and multiple
of price-to-tangible book value (6.6x) implied by the $1.00 per share
consideration compare favourably with Glass Lewis' analysis of 17 precedent
transactions of similar nature


In recommending that Freewest shareholders vote for the proposed transaction,
Institutional Shareholders Services noted that:


- the Plan of Arrangement with Cliffs is the result of a strategic review
process undertaken in response to the hostile take-over bid by Noront Resources
Ltd.


- the consideration offered by Cliffs was increased several times

- market reaction is positive

The proposed Plan of Arrangement has been unanimously approved by Freewest's
Board of Directors, based in part on the recommendation of a Special Committee
of the Board and a fairness opinion of CIBC World Markets Inc., Freewest's
financial advisor. The details of the Plan of Arrangement and the fairness
opinion are included in Freewest's management proxy circular dated December 22,
2009, a copy of which has been mailed to Freewest shareholders.


Freewest shareholders who have questions about the proposed transaction or who
need assistance in voting their shares should contact Georgeson, Freewest's
solicitation agent, toll free at 1-866-433-7579. Banks and brokers can call
Georgeson collect at 1-212-806-6859. Freewest shareholders are advised to review
the management proxy circular in its entirety before voting. The circular is
available from Georgeson and at www.sedar.com.


Permission to refer to the reports prepared respectively by Institutional
Shareholders Services Canada Corp. and Glass Lewis & Co. was neither sought nor
obtained by Freewest.


About Freewest

Freewest is a mineral exploration company actively exploring for gold,
base-metals and chromite within eastern Canada. Corporate information can be
accessed on the Internet at www.freewest.com. Freewest's shares are listed on
Tier 1 of the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol FWR.


About Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE:CLF)(PARIS:CLF) is an international mining and
natural resources company. It is the largest producer of iron ore pellets in
North America, a major supplier of direct-shipping lump and fines iron ore out
of Australia and a significant producer of metallurgical coal. With core values
of environmental and capital stewardship, Cliffs' colleagues across the globe
endeavor to provide all stakeholders operating and financial transparency as
embodied in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework. Cliffs is organized
through three geographic business units:


The North American business unit is comprised of six iron ore mines owned or
managed in Michigan, Minnesota and Eastern Canada, and two coking coal mining
complexes located in West Virginia and Alabama. The Asia Pacific business unit
is comprised of two iron ore mining complexes in Western Australia and a 45%
economic interest in a coking and thermal coal mine in Queensland, Australia.
The South American business unit includes a 30% interest in the Amapa Project,
an iron ore project in the state of Amapa in Brazil.


Over recent years, Cliffs has been executing a strategy designed to achieve
scale in the mining industry and focused on serving the world's largest and
fastest growing steel markets.


Georgeson is acting as Freewest's solicitation agent in connection with the
proposed Plan of Arrangement with Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Georgeson may be
contacted as follows:




                                Georgeson
                         100 University Avenue
                        11th Floor, South Tower
                            Toronto, Ontario
                                 M5J 2Y1

            North American Toll Free Number: 1-866-433-7579
            Banks and Brokers Collect Number: 1-212-806-6859



Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking
information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable
securities legislation. This forward-looking information is subject to numerous
risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of Freewest
Resources Canada Inc. ("Freewest"). Actual results or achievements may differ
materially from those expressed in, or implied by, this forward-looking
information. No assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the
forward-looking information will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so,
what benefits that Freewest will derive therefrom. In particular, no assurance
can be given as to whether the proposed plan of arrangement with Cliffs Natural
Resources Inc. will be completed. Forward-looking information is based on the
estimates and opinions of Freewest's management at the time the information is
released and Freewest does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to
revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable
securities laws.
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