Let west coast have a say on Marble Mountain's future, says businessman

As the deliberations over possibly privatizing aspects of the Marble Mountain resort continue behind closed doors, one Corner Brook entrepreneur is bemoaningthe lack of local voicesand asking for change.

Arequest for proposals for the provincial government-owned, money-losing ski hill in Steady Brook closed in August.Since then, Tourism Minister Christopher Mitchelmore has declined to elaborate on the process beyond the fact thatthree proposals are being considered by a government-appointed board of directors.

That boardof the Marble Mountain Development Corporation, which also overseesthe resort's daily operationsis composed entirely of civil servants based in St. John's.

"I'm asking the question, why are we not allowed to be involved in that process? Why is it happening behind closed doors?" said Jamie Fowlow, a longtime localbusinessman.

Fowlow said he has asked another question to Mitchelmore, as well as Premier Dwight Ball and Corner Brook MHA Gerry Byrne if Fowlowcould join the board as avolunteer and provide local input.

"What seems to be missing is the perspective of the west coast. People who've grown up around Marble Mountain, who know what Marble Mountain means, that kind of thing. The stakeholders who are involved, are not involved," he said,

The answer? No,but that could be revisited once the proposals process wraps.

• Government still pondering offers on Marble Mountain

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"It's too late then, once something is signed, sealed and done," Fowlow said.

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation told CBCin a statement that Mitchelmoredoes not appoint individuals to any provincial board or commission such as the Marble Mountain Development Corporation, but individuals may apply for openings, and such appointments are based on merit.

The statement said the interim board will remain in place, pending the outcome of the request for proposals process,which "is ongoing, and an update will be provided once the review is complete."

Locals lacking

Fowlow isn't alone in his desire to have a say.

InApril 2017, the provincial government sackedthe majority of its 11-person board, which at that time included west coast representatives. Mitchelmore appointed an interim board of civil servants, which reopened the ski hill for a weekend of free skiing at Easter, a move which lost at least $10,000.

• Marble Mountain reopening after board members terminated by provincial government

That half-full interim board continues to this day, despiteconstitutional bylaws which state local stakeholders must have seats: the town of Steady Brook, the City of Corner Brook, as well as the Marble Mountain Ski and Ride Club are all supposed to be represented.

All three of those entities have confirmed to CBCNewsthey have requested their slots be filled to no avail.

Those bylaws also state six positions are to be made available to the general public, and Fowlow sees himself as more than up for the task, particularly when it comes to vetting RFPs.

"I'm familiar with strategicplanning, business plan development, analyzing things," he said.

"I'm not against development, I'm not against profit, I'm not against private operators. What Iwant to make sure is the best interests of the ski hill, the core of the whole thing, is protected for the people on the west coast."

The Marble Mountain Development Corporation dates back to 1988, when the province took over operations of the hill and invested heavily in infrastructure, a move which has cost untold millions of dollars.

• Marble Mountain's ski season is over. Now what?

The resort operates with the assistance of about $1-million ofannual grants from the province. In the latest figures available, for its 2017-18 season, day lift tickets were down almost 14 per cent from the year before, with just over 59,000 skier visits.

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