The greater Quebec City region boasts a natural gem with the potential to become a leading outdoor destination in eastern North America: Parc du Mont-Sainte-Anne. Unfortunately, this world-class mountain is the victim of a serious decline, obvious and worrying for users, the impact of which is significant for the economy of the region and of Quebec as a whole. One of the most eloquent proofs will have been the serious accidents involving the cable cars and which caused around twenty injuries in 2020.
These incidents have put the spotlight on a much more serious and profound problem: Mont-Sainte-Anne suffers from chronic underinvestment on the part of the manager in place for some 20 years, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR). The many failures experienced in recent years — breakdowns, equipment breakdowns, slowdowns in operations, etc. — remind us that the problem is far from over.
Regional mobilization
Today, as former ministers responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region, we put partisan considerations aside and unite our voices with those of other political leaders, business people, representatives of the tourist community, athletes level and citizens who launched the Avenir Mont-Sainte-Anne group last fall.
The future of Mont-Sainte-Anne is not an issue that only concerns skiers, cross-country skiers, cyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts. This is a major issue for the economic development and the ability to attract the entire Capitale-Nationale region. Mont-Sainte-Anne is one of our main assets for attracting tourists — Quebecers, Canadians and foreigners — in all seasons and especially during winter, which has always been the main challenge for our tourism industry.
After the difficult years that we have just experienced, the vitality of Mont-Sainte-Anne represents a potential that our merchants, our restaurateurs and our hoteliers cannot do without.
The feedback we have received and the comments made publicly by various representatives of the Government of Quebec in recent months confirm that the file is taken seriously. In 2021, legal steps were taken to regain control of the peripheral lands of Mont-Sainte-Anne, on which cross-country skiing, mountain biking and even camping activities take place. We welcome that.
As for the heart of the mountain and the alpine ski resort, however, the problem remains. We know that discussions have taken place lately with the current manager, RCR, but time is passing and, unfortunately, the situation remains unchanged.
At this stage, it seems clear to us that a change of operator is necessary and that the government must use all the levers at its disposal to make this happen, in concert with Quebec investors and the involvement of the local community. . We must act now to resolve the impasse before the end of this parliamentary session, which will be the last of this legislature.
This file — a major one for our region — is at a crossroads. The Mont-Sainte-Anne land is the property of the Government of Quebec, and therefore of the entire population of Quebec. This gem belongs to us, and it is completely legitimate — and more than time — to demand that it be developed to its maximum potential, in consultation with the community, and that it generate significant socioeconomic benefits for all. the Quebecois.