Digby Pines, Liscombe Lodge may remain in government hands for season

Two provincially-owned resorts may remain in the hands of Nova Scotia taxpayers for at least one more season.

Tourism Nova Scotia is negotiating another extension to a contract with Connecticut-based companyNew Castle Hotels and Resorts, which hasoperatedDigbyPines Golf Resort andSpaandLiscombe Lodge Resort andConference Centre since 2002.

The extension isneeded because officials are still going over proposals to sell the properties, Nova Scotia Business Minister MarkFureysaid Thursday.

"Our objective is to get out of the real estate business,"Furey said.

"That's not a core responsibility or function of government, but at the same time, we have to be conscious of taxpayers dollars and ... attempt to manage any sale in the best interests of Nova Scotians and we're being diligent in that process."

New Castle Hotels and Resorts operates a number of properties in the Maritimes, such asWestinNovaScotianin Halifax, Hampton Inn Suites by Hiltonin Dartmouth and Algonquin Resortin SaintAndrews, N.B.

No 'significant'change to costs, minister says

Fureysaid hedidn't think the contract renewal would cost taxpayers more.

"I think the annual average cost over the past number of years has been in the area of a million and a half dollars," he said.

"I don't anticipate that those costs would change in any significant way."

The provincial government first put the resorts up for sale in June2012.This latest attempt to sell was inMay 2015.

The two resorts employ a total of 218 people, 12 full-time and 206 seasonally.

Last spring, the province sold KelticLodge Resort and Spa in IngonishBeach, N.S.,toGolfNorth Properties.Thelodgeis on federal land in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.