Faced with climate change, Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon is studying the possibility of financing the purchase of more efficient snow cannons for all ski hills in Quebec. The aid could help revive Mont-Sainte-Anne, where expropriation of the owner is out of the question.
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With milder winters, cannons must produce artificial snow from zero degrees, rather than minus ten degrees. The Association des stations de ski du Québec estimates that the bill to replace these infrastructures amounts to $65 million.
“We look at the Ministry of Economy and Energy, and at the Prime Minister’s Office: what should we do? What is the government’s role for ski resorts? asked Mr. Fitzgibbon on his arrival at the CAQ caucus in Laval, in view of the return to parliament.
However, Quebec does not intend to pay 100% of the bill. “It takes a sharing of risks,” said the Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy.
“We know it’s important for Quebec. Is it the government’s role to fund all the snow cannons in Quebec? Maybe not, but at the same time it’s an important activity,” underlined Pierre Fitzgibbon.
These new snow cannons are also less energy-intensive, specifies the one who will file a bill on energy sobriety.
Mont-Sainte-Anne too
If Quebec goes ahead, funds will be available for Mont-Sainte-Anne, despite its poor record in terms of infrastructure maintenance. A gondola fell before the holidays and one of the ski lifts remains closed despite the resumption of activities.
“When you get involved with an organization, I think you have to be fair to all the others as well,” explained the minister, emphasizing the attraction of certain mountains for the tourism industry.
One thing is certain, Minister Fitzgibbon wants the mountain region of Quebec to improve its facilities. “We would all like to see an upgrade in infrastructure, from snow cannons to grooming machines and ski lifts. So, we have to see how we are going to work with the local environment, how we are going to work with society. Are they ready to put in the money? Are we, as a government, ready to help? »
“Not a banana republic”
Both Mr. Fitzgibbon and his colleague responsible for the Capitale-Nationale, Jonatan Julien, are however closing the door to an expropriation of the current owner, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR).
Jonatan Julien recognizes that Quebec would have the ability to evict him, despite his emphyteutic lease. But the company, he argues, meets the minimal conditions imposed by Daniel Johnson’s government at the time.
“I have already said it once and I will repeat it: we are not a republic of bananas”, he commented to underline the importance of respecting the contracts signed by the State.
Same story on the side of Minister Fitzgibbon. “An expropriation, basically, must be justified by a lack of respect for the commitments made by someone. When you look at the contract that was signed at the time with RCR, RCR respects its obligations”, added Mr. Fitzgibbon.
An expropriation would also harm the image of Quebec in the business community, according to Minister Fitzgibbon. “I am in charge of international economic development. I am looking for investments. It would be a bit paradoxical if, under no legal reason, we expropriated someone at the same time as we were looking for investors,” he says.