By Andrea Klassen, Invermere Valley Echo
According to a release from Columbia-River Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald, the B.C. Liberal government is set to announce its approval of the Jumbo Glacier Resort at a conference today at noon.
Minister Steve Thomson announced earlier today that he would make an announcement about the controversial resort development in Victoria, but had not specified what decision he had come to.
Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, and Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett are expected to answer questions about the decision this afternoon.
Macdonald, who says the glacier ski resort will be approved, called the decision "disrespectful" to those who oppose the project locally.
“This is tremendously disrespectful to make this announcement in Victoria instead of coming and facing the people of this valley," he said in a release. "If this was truly the right thing for this area, the government would be here in Invermere making this announcement.”
News of the announcement comes about a month after a delegation of local business owners, politicians and the resort's proponents spent a week promoting the resort in France. A reciprocal trip by French investors is planned for this spring.
Minister Steve Thomson has scheduled an 11 a.m. (PST) press conference on the matter. "Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson will announcehis decision on the proposed development by Jumbo Glacier Resorts Ltd.," stated a Tuesday morning announcement.
~with notes from Aaron Orlando, Revelstoke Times Review