The Quebec government announced that it is withholding $50 million pledged to the owner of Mont-Sainte-Anne ski resort due to the company’s failure to carry out necessary repairs over several years. The ski resort in Beaupré, Que., had to delay its opening twice this season. The closure of four ski lifts was ordered by the Régie du bâtiment (RBQ) on Friday, citing a risk to public safety.
In a joint statement, Charlevoix–Côte-de-Beaupré MNA Kariane Bourassa and Jean-François Simard, the minister for the Capitale-Nationale region, expressed their dissatisfaction with the current state of Mont-Sainte-Anne. The resort experienced electrical issues affecting various equipment, ski lifts, snowmaking systems, and the welcome center last week.
Bourassa and Simard criticized Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) for neglecting essential maintenance work to prevent such closures for an extended period. They emphasized the importance of safeguarding this ski season while ensuring the safety of all visitors. The government had committed $50 million to revitalize the mountain a year ago, with the lease held by RCR set to expire in 2093.
Bourassa mentioned in an interview that the government might consider terminating the 99-year lease signed in 1994, pending the outcomes of RBQ’s investigation. She emphasized that no financial support would be provided to the mountain until the lift issues are resolved and any negligence is ruled out.
Following RBQ’s intervention, RCR stated that Mont-Sainte-Anne’s electronic systems would undergo a comprehensive audit. The company assured that all necessary verifications and reports would be conducted meticulously to address the situation promptly.
Pascal Paradis, the Parti Québécois (PQ) critic for the Capitale-Nationale region, urged the government to take immediate action to ensure public safety and protect the interests of Quebecers. He emphasized the severity of RCR’s failure to fulfill its infrastructure maintenance obligations and proposed potential measures, including terminating contractual agreements or enacting special legislation if needed.
The ski-study program at Mont-Sainte-Anne has been relocated to Stoneham temporarily, with students using passes authorized by RCR. Concerns were raised about potential additional transportation costs if the situation persists, particularly for parents holding non-refundable family passes. Frustration has mounted among pass holders seeking refunds, leading to planned demonstrations in protest of RCR’s neglect of the mountain over the past 26 years.
The Compagnie des montagnes de ski du Québec expressed readiness to assume the mountain’s operation if desired by the government and the community, as it continues to monitor the evolving situation at Mont-Sainte-Anne.