Mont-Sainte-Anne: RBQ Orders The Closure Of Four Aerial Ski Lifts
Just hours before skiers were set to make their first turns of the season, the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) slammed the brakes on Mont-Sainte-Anne’s opening weekend, ordering the immediate closure of four major aerial ski lifts due to critical safety concerns.
The order, served late Friday, forced the resort to indefinitely postpone its scheduled Saturday, December 13 opening, marking another turbulent chapter for the ski hill which has faced repeated scrutiny over infrastructure safety in recent years.
The RBQ’s decision follows a targeted inspection conducted on Wednesday, December 10, which uncovered a significant failure in the resort's 25,000-volt underground high-voltage network. This network is responsible for powering the resort's buildings, snowmaking systems, and ski lifts.
In a strongly worded statement, the RBQ described the situation as an "emergency," noting that the electrical faults compromised the safe operation of the equipment.
"As a reminder, ski resort operators are primarily responsible for the safety of their customers. The RBQ ensures that they comply with their regulatory obligations. Our priority remains public safety. The resumption of activities will depend on the pace at which Mont-Sainte-Anne complies with the requirements of the order." said Stéphane Petit Vice-President of Inspection at the RBQ
"The seriousness of the shortcomings observed in recent years creates an emergency situation that requires the RBQ to intervene without delay in order to prevent irreparable harm to the public," the provincial regulator stated. The agency emphasized that the electrical failure constituted a direct "danger to the safety and physical integrity of people."
The Affected Lifts
The closure order effectively paralyzes the mountain's main arteries, grounding the following four detachable lifts:
- L'Étoile Filante (The Gondola)
- L'Express du Sud
- L'Express du Nord
- L'Express du Panorama
Without these key lifts, access to the majority of the mountain's terrain is impossible.
Mont-Sainte-Anne management acknowledged the order on social media, expressing disappointment but confirming they would comply with the regulator's demands. While the main aerial lifts are shuttered, the resort indicated that snowmaking operations are continuing on both the North and South faces, and smaller conveyor lifts (magic carpets) at the base might still operate for beginners.
"We will fully comply with this order and... cooperate in all the upcoming steps," the resort stated in a message to customers, promising a further update on Monday.
This latest setback strikes a nerve for a community still recovering from the events of the 2022-2023 season, when the resort was closed for weeks after a gondola cabin detached and fell to the ground. That incident, combined with a previous injury-causing emergency stop in 2020, has led to a "zero tolerance" approach from the RBQ regarding the maintenance and safety of the resort's aging infrastructure.
The RBQ has made it clear that the lifts will remain closed until the operator, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR), can demonstrate that the electrical issues have been fully resolved and safety conditions are met.
Key developments to follow include the RBQ’s release of any follow‑up inspection findings, the resort’s timeline for repairs and re‑inspection, and whether contingency plans (shuttle services, limited surface skiing) will be offered to visitors while lifts remain closed. The closure underscores the regulator’s mandate to prioritize safety over schedule and highlights the operational vulnerabilities ski areas face when critical electrical infrastructure is compromised
