ChileMass
Active member
Skijay just sent this to me -
This would truly suck. Hopefully, the owner/operator is just muscling the provincial authorities to get approval for some level of development at the base. Maybe 1400 condos is too many, but they would approve something less....
Oh, man - they gotta open for next year. This is my new favorite hill......
Mont Orford ski hill shuts down
Last Updated Apr 1 2005 06:07 PM EST
CBC News
SHERBROOKE, QUE. – The owner of the Mont Orford ski hill in the Eastern Townships is suspending operations for the indefinite future, throwing 40 people out of work.
Critics say the owner is trying to put pressure on the government to reconsider a development project that was put on hold after a Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE) study.
The owner of the Mount Orford ski hill, André l'Esperance, had grand plans to develop the site into a resort. He wanted to exchange land close to the hill for part of the provincial park.
A BAPE study said plans to build 1,400 condos at the foot of the hill posed an environmental risk.
Now, L'Esperance says he can't afford to keep the ski hill up and running.
Solid investment
L'Esperance has been very clear that he will invest money in Mont Orford only if it's a solid investment, says Pierre Lefebvre, president of the Magog Chamber of Commerce.
He says this decision is strictly a business decision.
Environmental group Memphremagog Conservation Incorporated applauded the BAPE's findings. Donald Fischer, president of the group, says L'Esperance is trying to put pressure on the Charest government to overlook the findings of the BAPE study.
"There's a bit of a change from what he said less than a week ago when he said he was ready to listen to the propositions from [Environment Minister] Mr. Mulcair," Fischer says.
All eyes now turn to Thomas Mulcair, who will be visiting Orford soon to decide the future of the planned development.
This would truly suck. Hopefully, the owner/operator is just muscling the provincial authorities to get approval for some level of development at the base. Maybe 1400 condos is too many, but they would approve something less....
Oh, man - they gotta open for next year. This is my new favorite hill......
Mont Orford ski hill shuts down
Last Updated Apr 1 2005 06:07 PM EST
CBC News
SHERBROOKE, QUE. – The owner of the Mont Orford ski hill in the Eastern Townships is suspending operations for the indefinite future, throwing 40 people out of work.
Critics say the owner is trying to put pressure on the government to reconsider a development project that was put on hold after a Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE) study.
The owner of the Mount Orford ski hill, André l'Esperance, had grand plans to develop the site into a resort. He wanted to exchange land close to the hill for part of the provincial park.
A BAPE study said plans to build 1,400 condos at the foot of the hill posed an environmental risk.
Now, L'Esperance says he can't afford to keep the ski hill up and running.
Solid investment
L'Esperance has been very clear that he will invest money in Mont Orford only if it's a solid investment, says Pierre Lefebvre, president of the Magog Chamber of Commerce.
He says this decision is strictly a business decision.
Environmental group Memphremagog Conservation Incorporated applauded the BAPE's findings. Donald Fischer, president of the group, says L'Esperance is trying to put pressure on the Charest government to overlook the findings of the BAPE study.
"There's a bit of a change from what he said less than a week ago when he said he was ready to listen to the propositions from [Environment Minister] Mr. Mulcair," Fischer says.
All eyes now turn to Thomas Mulcair, who will be visiting Orford soon to decide the future of the planned development.
