On Friday March 6, 2009, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a $25 million, 50-cent matching dollars investment in recreational trails across Canada as part of the federal government’s Economic Action Plan.
As proof of his government’s serious commitment to trails, Prime Minister travelled to Summerside, PEI last June to speak to all Canadian snowmobile associations at the International Snowmobile Congress (ISC).
“Investing in Canada’s national trails helps create jobs today. It also opens up new opportunities for tourism businesses and allows more Canadians to enjoy the Canadian countryside in a safe and responsible manner,” said the Prime Minister.
The portion of the federal investment available to the OFSC is $1.733 million, and with matching dollars this will mean that the OFSC will be undertaking trail projects this fall and winter totalling $3.46 million to improve snowmobiling tourism opportunities in Ontario.
The investment will be infrastructure focused to help create new jobs and boost local economies. As a result, the OFSC and its districts were very busy this past summer identifying and developing projects that fit the strict program criteria, not the least of which is that all finds must be invested by March 31, 2010.
This is more great news for OFSC snowmobilers, who will benefit from significant new improvements this winter, especially on the major projects intended to be used as templates for showcase tours that will help guide future trail development.
For the latest national info on the $25 million federal investment, click on: ntc-canada.ca.
