Marble draws no interest in latest government effort to off-load ski resort
Tourism Minister Fred Hutton says province wasn't surprised by lack of interest
The government of Newfoundland and Labrador is still struggling to off-load a seasonal tourism destination on the island's west coast, after receiving no public interest in its latest effort to sell off Atlantic Canada's largest ski resort.
Marble Mountain Resort resides in Steady Brook, just west of Corner Brook. It's currently owned and operated by the provincial government, which has made several attempts to sell the operation.
In June 2018, the province issued a request for proposal in hopes of drumming up a buyer. The RFP was cancelled in July 2021 after only three submissions were received.
In August, an expression of interest for the purchase or long-term lease of the resort was issued. Former tourism minister Steve Crocker told CBC News at the time that two parties expressed interest.
In February, the province issued a new RFP for the sale of the resort. Tourism Minister Fred Hutton said the government received no bids.
"We're sort of back to square one," Hutton said. "We weren't completely surprised by this."
No interest
The sale of Marble Mountain was recommended by both former premier Andrew Furey's economic recovery team and a 2022 review of provincial assets performed by multinational bank and financial services company Rothschild and Co.
Hutton said the province would like to see the property become a privately owned four-season resort — a vision, he says, requires a private investor.
"People have been doing other things around Marble Mountain for years," Hutton said. "It's just a matter of marketing that and having the right people behind it and the right investment that private would bring to it."
In the meantime, the 2025 provincial budget has committed to funding Marble Mountain through its 2025-26 winter season.
Hutton said the facility is a cornerstone of tourism on Newfoundland's west coast.
"Over the last five years we've committed to about $4.5 million dollars in capital investments in addition to the operating fund that the province gives to the ski hill each and every year," he said, adding that the province remains committed to keeping the resort open.
"If a private investor comes in and has some sort of different vision, that's why we want to talk to the stakeholders."
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With files from Bernice Hillier