Apex Resorts Corp., the Okanagan ski area isolated by a native blockade last fall, is considering legal action against the native bands and the provincial and federal governments. Apex contends the governments allowed the five-week blockade to take place. The blockade caused Apex to open two weeks later than scheduled this winter, put 250 on-mountain jobs at risk, led to many holiday cancellations and caused investors to fold up their chequebooks. Following the blockade the publicly-traded ski resort secured an $8 million loan, guaranteed by the province, to keep it afloat. The Penticton, Upper Similkameen and Lower Similkameen bands straddle all three access roads to Apex. The bands have environmental and traffic concerns about Apex. The informal seven Peaks land claim also includes Apex. Apex President Fraser Martin says the federal and provincial governments must bear some responsibility for the blockade. "The dilemma was also caused by the inability of the government to deal with the situation," Martin says.
