The Mountain Resorts Branch (MRB) of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development has received a draft Resort Master Plan update and an application for replacement of the existing Master Development Agreement (MDA) from Big White Ski Resort Ltd.

The Master Plan is the conceptual plan for the resort, identifying the vision and phased expansion plans. The Master Plan is the reference point from which the MDA and all other authorizations are based. The MDA is the contractual agreement between the Province and Big White that sets out the terms and conditions for resort development, including the right to acquire authorizations for recreational infrastructure on Crown land.

The public engagement period has concluded but the project review will continue for several months, including issues resolution with agencies, stakeholders and First Nations.  Provided the questions, issues and concerns identified during the project review have been mitigated, the draft Resort Master Plan update and the application to replace the MDA may be approved by the Province. If approved, the new All-Seasons Resort MDA would expire 60 years from the date of approval and sign off by the Province. For more information please visit the Big White Project Review site.

December 23, 2020 to February 26, 2021

• Applications, Comments and Reason for Decision Website: 70 comments
• Email Correspondence: 3 responses
• Regular Mail & Fax: 0 responses

The public feedback received during the engagement period will be used to identify the potential impacts of Big White’s proposed future development on public interests.  Questions and concerns received from the public, provincial and local government agencies, stakeholders, and First Nations will be collected and shared with Big White.  As part of an issues resolution process, solutions will be developed to address the potential impacts from the project.  The proposed solutions may require updates to the draft Master Plan.  Alternatively, specific conditions or commitments may be included within the legal framework of the MDA to ensure that issues are addressed at pre-determined development milestones. This review and issues resolution process is expected to take many months.  After the Project review is complete, MRB will prepare recommendations for the updated Resort Master Plan and replacement MDA decision.  Before the Province makes a formal decision for this project, a public open house will be held to present the final Resort Master Plan, discuss what was heard during the review, and identify the mitigations implemented to address the issues raised.