By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Federal government to build gondola up face of Mount Benson

Apr 1, 2019 | 7:17 AM

NANAIMO — There was a much more meaningful reason for the prime minister’s seemingly uninteresting visit to the harbour city last week, NanaimoNewsNOW has learned.

Multiple sources close to the situation confirmed Justin Trudeau was actually in Nanaimo on March 25 to meet with officials from Quebec engineering giant SNC-Lavalin to finalize a $1-billion contract for construction of a gondola to the peak of Mount Benson.

The concept of a gondola up one of Nanaimo’s jewels was originally pitched in March 2017 by a longtime local realtor but didn’t gain much momentum. At the time officials said the idea wasn’t supported by the Regional District of Nanaimo’s management plan for the mountain.

But that management plan expires in 2020 and officials within the Prime Ministerial Office confirmed to NanaimoNewsNOW that the federal government will assume management of the regional park, with the first agenda item being construction of the gondola.

“The prime minister sees this as a huge opportunity to drum up some serious support for the Liberal Party of Canada with a byelection campaign underway and a general election shortly behind,” a source within the office said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter at this time.

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Leaked documents showed the federal government has already inked consent agreements with the RDN, City of Nanaimo and area First Nations.

In fact, construction of a 120-space parking lot is underway near the Witchcraft Lake trail head on Benson View Rd. While the RDN has publicly said that parking lot expansion is for hikers visiting the popular destination, NanaimoNewsNOW has learned it is in fact meant to serve as the main gathering area for gondola riders.

As reported last week, Trudeau dined at White Spot in Nanaimo before his stroll along the seawall. A waitress at the restaurant said Trudeau actually met for breakfast with SNC officials to hammer out final details of the contract, noting the prime minister insisted everyone at the table “try the candied salmon and goat cheese scramble.”

The gondola is meant to serve mainly as a tourist draw, creating a destination attraction which has long been sought by the Port of Nanaimo, a federal entity, to attract more cruise ships.

Roughly 10,000 trees on the mountain’s peak will be cleared to create a landing area for the gondola. There’s also plans in the works for a brew pub style restaurant on Benson’s summit, to be run by the federal government. PMO insiders confirmed Trudeau demanded the pub be named “Jody’s Place.”

Asked about potential backlash over environmental impacts, the PMO insider replied “if the people don’t like this plan, we’ll just buy another pipeline and build it up the face of the mountain. Take your pick, Nanaimo voters.”

It appears gondola rides to the peak of Benson won’t be for the average user. A ride up is expected to cost around $50, while anyone wanting to avoid a rugged trek will be forced to pay another $100 to be taken back down.

When asked how the matter received approval from municipal officials without public knowledge, the PMO staffer said the matter was quickly brought to in-camera meetings before the November civic election to take advantage of “more insane decision-makers.”

People are expected to be able to grab a ride on “JT’s Gondola” by late 2020.

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