The Charlevoix Train, popular for its scenic route from Québec City to La Malbaie, is set to cease operations this Friday due to insurmountable financial difficulties.
After 13 years of serving tourists, local officials announced the train's closure following unmet funding requests amounting to $350,000, with stakeholders unable to find common ground on the proposal.
A meeting held on December 18, 2024, at Baie-Saint-Paul involved the president of Réseau Charlevoix, Bruno Labbé, local mayors, and other regional representatives. Upon exiting the meeting, Labbé expressed disappointment, confirming, "La situation n’a pas évolué. La date du 20 demeure puis on est en mode fermeture de Réseau Charlevoix" (The situation hasn’t evolved. The date of the 20th remains, and we are in shutdown mode for Réseau Charlevoix.)
The closure, announced to take effect at the end of the week, has left around 50 employees facing layoffs, just as the holiday season approaches. Many current and former staff members received termination notices earlier this month, with only limited administrative staff planning to stay on until after the New Year.
According to local data cited by Radio-Canada, the Charlevoix Train faced losses of $625,000 this year, with Réseau Charlevoix’s general director, Nancy Belley, highlighting the need for immediate financial assistance to keep operations running. "Nous avons un manque à gagner de 625 000 $ pour boucler notre budget" (We have a shortfall of $625,000 to balance our budget), she had stated before the final discussions.
Despite the involvement of local governments and organizations, the support fell short. The MRCs of Charlevoix and Charlevoix-Est, as well as the municipalities of Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie, found the requested funding "trop élevé" (too high) within their strained budgets.
Mayor Michaël Pilote of Baie-Saint-Paul reflected on this situation, saying, "On faisait déjà plusieurs efforts pour soutenir le Train de Charlevoix. Nous avons des choix à faire" (We had already made several efforts to support the Charlevoix Train. We have choices to make). He emphasized the challenging fiscal environment faced by municipalities, exacerbated by the need for prioritizing other expenses.
Prior to the announcement, the train's operations had been sustained by significant contributions from local governments, boasting nearly $3 million overall funding since its inception. Efforts from entities such as Groupe Le Massif and private donors offered some reprieve, yet it wasn’t sufficient to avert the closure.
Patrick Lavoie, prefect of the MRC de Charlevoix, voiced the sentiments of local leaders when he remarked, "Ça devenait difficile pour nous de poursuivre le financement. On ne voyait pas la viabilité à long terme" (It became difficult for us to continue funding. We didn’t see long-term viability). He reiterated the importance of assessing the financial realities before the meeting concluded.
Local businesses and tourism officials are preparing for the economic fallout as the Charlevoix Train has contributed significantly to the area’s tourism, generating around $8 million annually through its operations.
Across the board, stakeholders spoke of the sadness surrounding the attraction's closure. Mitchell Dion, director of Tourisme Charlevoix, lamented, "C’est triste qu’on perde un produit de cette importance. C’était une vitrine pour la région" (It's sad to lose such an important product. It was a showcase for the region). Local pride and job losses are acute as the community navigates the impending closure.
The operational struggles this season have been extensive, with attendance failing to meet expectations after last year’s record of over 90,000 riders. With only 80,000 visitors anticipated for this year, it highlights the shifting dynamics of tourist interest and operational viability.
Looking forward, decisions about the future of the Charlevoix Train remain uncertain. With the board of directors required to forecast future seasons, it appears they will be deciding whether there will be any plans moving forward or if the train will cease indefinitely.
With calls for immediate dialogue about the future of tourism and transportation infrastructure within the region, many stakeholders are urging for innovative solutions to regenerate interest and investment moving forward.
For now, as the clock ticks down to the final operational day of the Charlevoix Train, residents and employees alike must come to terms with the significant loss and its repercussions on their tightly knit community.
