BC'ers Opinions???

Opinions? Comments?


BC REGULATIONS MORE FAVORABLE TO RESORT DEVELOPMENT
A new attitude toward tourism is offering hope for the developer of ski resort in British Columbia that has been on the drawing board for 13 years, according to published reports. Oberto Oberti's plans for a $450-million resort at Jumbo Glacier, high in the Purcell Mountains, has been thwarted by environmental groups and local residents. They have accused Oberti, who also helped develop Kicking Horse and Whistler, of everything from threatening grizzly bear migration routes to hurting the local economy by competing with other, nearby ski resorts.

After years of frustration, there appears to be reason to believe the long wait may be coming to an end, not just for Oberti, but for numerous other would-be resort owners. In a speech last February, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell said he wanted the tourism industry to double in size over the next decade. He also said he wanted to see a network of four season resorts across the province. Since then his government has made several key legislative changes aimed at helping that process along, including limiting the amount of time ministries can spend mulling over permit applications for resorts.

At least four major ski resort proposals will be affected by the changes. Besides Jumbo Glacier they include a development on Canoe Mountain near Jasper National Park, Garibaldi Mountain about an hour north of Vancouver, and Cayoosh, about three hours north of Vancouver. On top of that, virtually every existing ski resort in the province is looking to add new runs or hotel space, observers said.

Good as long as environmental concerns are dealt with. I've been waiting for something to happen with Garibaldi Mountain for years. As long as Intrawest doesn't buy up all the new resorts, we'll be OK.