Management and union representatives at Mont Orford have until midnight Wednesday to resolve their dispute or the Quebec government will step in and solve the problem, a cabinet minister warned.

Environment Minister Claude Béchard gave the ultimatum Tuesday night, after meeting with both sides in an attempt to break an impasse over a new contract.

Ski hill owner André L'Espérance locked out employees in late October. The main issue in the dispute centres on the contract's term. The union wants it to cover several years, while the ski facility wants a shorter agreement. 

Management said the dispute is the main reason it cancelled the 2006-2007 ski season.

But Béchard said the mountain is an important economic engine for the region and has to open this winter.

"And if it's not the case, if they are not able to say 'yes,' we will see if there is some other possibility," he said Tuesday night. "But I want to be very firm on that. I want to see Mont Orford open for next winter."

The government is not willing to take over the hill's operations, and doesn't want to spend public dollars to keep it open. Béchard said there are other means to keeping the ski season viable.