Alberta ski hill ordered to stop selling passes

The Alberta government has ordered the Fortress Mountain ski resort in the Kananaskis area to stop selling season's passes.

Wilson Smith, a spokesman withAlberta Government Services, says the resort may not be fully operational bya tentativeDec. 1opening date that had been advertised on its website.

The website now says the opening date will be announced later.

The province issued a consumer alert because people who buy passesmight nothave access to services advertised by the resort owners, said Smith.

"We wanted to protect consumers and that's why we have taken these actions," he said.

Smith said theorder was based on health and safetyviolations uncoveredby other government agencies and past unresolved complaintsfrom consumers, but he couldn't providedetails.

Under the terms of the order,the resort's owner, Banff Rail Co. must immediately:

• Cease advertising services that it cannot currently provide.
• Change its website to accurately describe the facility and the services that exist.
• Stop selling ski passes for the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 ski seasons.

The company has 30 days to appeal. Breaching an order from the department could mean a maximum fine of $100,000, two years in jail or both.

Banff Rail Co. has not returned phone calls from CBC News.