Province spending $3.1 million upgrading resorts

On Monday the province announced it will spend $3.1 million to upgrade three of Nova Scotia's signature resorts, after months of trying to find new operators for Digby Pines, Liscombe Lodge and Keltic Lodge.

The money will be spent on new beds, televisions, refrigerators and updated carpets.

Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Percy Paris said the investment is essential if the resorts are to survive.

"They don't have a future as they are now. I think they're damaging their own individual reputations and they're damaging Nova Scotia's reputation as a tourism destination," Paris said.

The province will try to sell the properties again in April.

"[Someone may] purchase the resorts, maybe one, maybe two or maybe all three of them. Someone may submit a proposal just to manage the resorts," Paris said.

"We opened that request for proposals up … we want people to use their imaginations."

The province has also extended the contract for New Castle Hotels and Resorts, the current property manager for the resorts, for another year.

The province owns the Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa and Liscombe Lodge Resort and Conference Centre.

Paris said the province is also in talks with Parks Canada about Keltic Lodge, which is on federal land in Cape Breton.

Keltic Lodge Resort and Spa is located in Cape Breton Highlands National Park and is operated and maintained by the province under a long-term agreement with the Government of Canada.

The resorts will all remain open for 2012.