The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) authorized the return to service of four aerial ski lifts at the Mont-Sainte-Anne ski resort on Saturday, three weeks after suspending activities on this site for safety reasons.
“This is excellent news,” said Saturday the general manager of the Alliance Affaires Côte-de-Beaupré, Marie-Julie Paradis, which represents 280 merchants and businesses in the sector. Among these, several “suffered during the holiday season” due to the suspension of activities in this ski center, at the heart of the economic activity of this region.
The ski lift The shooting star, where the fall of a gondola had caused a stir on December 10, remains nevertheless at a standstill. In a press release issued on Saturday, the RBQ indicates that it is still waiting for the site operator, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, “to demonstrate to it that it meets the conditions of the order in order to allow the return to service of this lift. “. The owner of this ski resort must in particular provide the RBQ with a safety certificate signed by an engineer showing that this ski lift is ready to operate again.
“The RBQ’s priority remains public safety. The Mont-Sainte-Anne station has provided us with all the evidence and requirements to partially lift the ordinance concerning four aerial ski lifts,” said RBQ President and CEO Michel Beaudoin in a press release. As for the reopening of the lift where the fall of a gondola occurred almost a month ago, this “will depend on the pace of fulfillment of the requirements provided for in the ordinance by the operator”, adds he.
“We hope for the 100% complete opening as soon as possible”, press for her part Marie-Julie Paradis, who wishes that her members can bail out their coffers in the coming weeks after the financial losses suffered since the suspension of activities at Mont -Saint Anne.
Security issues
On December 16, the RBQ demanded that all of the aerial lifts at the Mont-Sainte-Anne ski resort be shut down. In her order, she highlighted important safety issues on this site as well as shortcomings in the training of ski resort staff.
Several requirements were then imposed on the site operator as a prerequisite for the return to service of its ski lifts. The RBQ then “gradually” received documentation from Mont-Sainte-Anne between December 24 and January 5, which allowed it to authorize the reopening of four of its ski lifts.
“We are satisfied that the safety issues have been addressed by the operator,” reacted on Saturday the president and CEO of the Association des stations de ski du Québec, Yves Juneau, who recalls that the months of January and February constitute the “hot period for the ski industry” in the province. “It had to happen now, it shouldn’t be delayed any longer,” says Mr. Juneau, in reference to the resumption of activities at Mont-Sainte-Anne.
Yves Juneau also believes that the steps taken since then by the RBQ to secure Mont-Sainte-Anne could have beneficial effects for all ski centers in Quebec.
“It will lead us to ensure that we develop even more continuing education for employees who work with ski lifts, such as mechanics and operators,” foresees Mr. Juneau. In the end, he adds, “the important thing is to ensure that the ski lifts remain safe”.