In the face of climate change, Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon is exploring the possibility of funding the purchase of more efficient snow guns for all of Quebec’s ski slopes. The aid could help revitalize Mont-Sainte-Anne, where expropriation of the owner is out of the question.
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In milder winters, cannons have to produce artificial snow from zero degrees instead of minus ten degrees. The Association des stations de ski du Québec estimates that replacing this infrastructure will cost $65 million.
“We look at the Ministry of Economy and Energy and at the Prime Minister’s Office: what should we do? What role does the state play for ski areas? asked Mr Fitzgibbon upon his arrival at the CAQ caucus in Laval in view of returning to Parliament.
However, Quebec does not intend to pay 100% of the bill. “Risk sharing is needed,” said the Minister for Economy, Innovation and Energy.
“We know it’s important for Quebec. Is it the government’s job to fund all snow cannons in Quebec? Maybe not, but at the same time it is an important activity,” stressed Pierre Fitzgibbon.
These new snow guns are also less energy intensive, specifies the one who will submit an energy sobriety bill.
Mont Sainte Anne too
If Quebec goes ahead, funds will be available for Mont-Sainte-Anne, despite its poor record of infrastructure maintenance. A gondola fell ahead of the holidays and one of the ski lifts remains closed despite resuming operations.
“In my opinion, when you get involved in an organization, you have to be fair to everyone else,” explained the minister, emphasizing the attraction of certain mountains for the tourism industry.
One thing is for sure, Minister Fitzgibbon wants the mountain region of Quebec to improve their facilities. “We all want infrastructure to be improved, from snow cannons to snow groomers to ski lifts. So we have to see how we’re going to work with the local environment, how we’re going to work with society. Are you willing to invest the money? Are we as a government ready to help? »
“No Banana Republic”
However, both Mr Fitzgibbon and his colleague in charge of the Capitale-Nationale, Jonatan Julien, are closing the door on an expropriation of the current owner, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR).
Jonatan Julien acknowledges that Quebec would have the option to evict him despite his emphyteutic lease. But the company, he argues, meets the minimum conditions imposed by Daniel Johnson’s government at the time.
“I have said it before and I will repeat it: we are not a banana republic,” he commented, underlining the importance of respecting the treaties signed by the state.
Same story on Minister Fitzgibbon’s side. “As a rule, expropriation must be justified by a lack of respect for the commitments made by someone. If you look at the contract that was signed with RCR at the time, RCR respects its commitments,” added Mr Fitzgibbon.
According to Minister Fitzgibbon, expropriation would also damage Quebec’s image in the business world. “I am responsible for international economic development. I am looking for investments. It would be a bit of a paradox if we expropriated someone without any legal reason while at the same time looking for investors,” he says.
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