The Mont-Sainte-Anne ski resort will remain closed for the weekend, the resort announced Thursday. The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) ordered the suspension of the mountain’s aerial lifts on Friday.
“The checks that were made before the lift was put back into operation do not meet the” regulatory requirements nor “the manufacturer’s instructions,” said the RBQ in a press release.
Last Saturday, a gondola on the resort’s ski lift crashed to the ground after slipping on the cable before skiers arrived, a third major accident in less than four years.
Before the lifts are put back into operation, the Régie requires in particular an expert report, safety certificates, and a training plan.
The extended closure is intended to “allow additional time to continue the careful review of all procedures in place in each of our departments,” said Maxime Cretin, vice president and general manager for Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, Edmonton region. Is, quoted in a statement from the station Thursday.
“A reopening date will be confirmed soon,” we are assured. The two training slopes at the base of the mountain, located in Beaupré, are however open according to the regular schedule.
Earlier this week, the mayor of Beaupré demanded investments from Quebec after a citizens’ group urged the government to cut off funding to the company. Prime Minister François Legault then got involved, criticizing the manager Resorts of the Canadian Rockies.