The places have been picked. What happens next is unclear.

Fortress Mountain, Castle Mountain and Nakiska ski resorts — all located on Crown land in provincial parks — were selected by the provincial government under its All-Seasons Resort Act to potentially operate outside of winter months.

It’s part of the UCP’s goal to increase Alberta’s annual tourism revenue to $25 billion by 2035.

Cole Fawcett, Castle Mountain Resort’s sales and marketing manager, said they’re in the “evaluation phase” of looking at possible options.

“It gives operators like ourselves at least a pathway of achieving a greater level of certainty for private level of investment or additional investment,” he told CBC Radio’s Calgary Eyeopener.

Fawcett said the privately-owned southern Alberta resort has mostly winter-based operations, meaning “if you’re trying to ascertain all of your revenue in less than six months of the year, that is not a recipe for sustainable business.”

Resorts express interest

Nakiska was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics and Fortress closed in 2004, but has long been discussed to reopen. Both are in Kananaskis Country about an hour outside of Calgary.

Danielle Vlemmiks, the project director for Fortress, said they don’t have specific details to share but “are looking forward to working with the community, Indigenous partners and the government to reimagine the space sustainably.”

On its website, it lists redevelopment plans might include a new day lodge, ski lifts, hotel, hostel and commercial area.

Nakiska Ski Area declined an interview. In a statement, they said they were “pleased” with the announcement and will work with the provincial government on how it may impact the resort.

Caleigh Leighton, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative’s government relations strategist, said the organization continues to work with the province on the plans.

“We support efforts to build a strong, diverse economy that strengthens communities, while protecting wildlife habitat and wildlife corridors,” Leighton said. “We do expect to see world class standards for resorts, a commitment to no net loss of protected areas for resort development and supports for proven strategies for living and recreating safely where wildlife live.”

Environmental concerns

Katie Morrison, executive director of Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Southern Alberta, wants to see a holistic approach to the designations and subsequent development, to ensure increased tourism is appropriate and sustainable.

“We’re seeing a kind of popcorn approach, where developers can put in applications and there isn’t that overarching plan to make sure we are not overwhelming these important areas and we’re preserving the ecosystem values that bring tourists to these areas,” she said.

LISTEN | What does it mean to be designated as an all-season resort in Alberta?

Calgary Eyeopener6:57All-season mountain resorts

Morrison noted the plans change protected areas boundaries for the three designations, which is “directly contrary to what the policy says” and not in alignment with legislation.

“We don’t know the impact these three changes and the impacts it might have on the environment,” she said. “We also don’t know how future developments might impact wildlife movement, water use in a particular area, the ability of the public to access public land.”

Designation does not (necessarily) equal development

The all-seasons designation will fast-track approvals for resort projects that are on public land.

But Minister of Tourism and Sport Andrew Boitchenko said the “designation is not approval of development,” and Indigenous consultations and public engagement are still required.

The province will also consider existing legislation and management plans, and look at what other jurisdictions do for all-season resorts, said Boitchenko.

Parks Canada completes management plans for each national park every 10 to 12 years, but the ones for Nakiska and Fortress are two decades old.

“The regulator will be looking at that,” Boitchenko said.