Paudash Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club

Prime Minister Stephen Harper went snowmobiling on the Trans Canada Trail in Wilmot N.S. last March on the occasion of announcing the federal government’s $25 million investment in Canada’s national recreational trail network.

On Friday March 6, 2009, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a $25 million federal government investment in recreational trails across Canada. This investment was noted in the recent federal budget as part of the government’s economic stimulus and job creation initiative. The funds will flow through a relatively new national organization named the National Trails Coalition. Virtually all types of recreational trail organizations in Canada have an opportunity to participate in this national program, from snowmobile to equestrian and bike trails.

The National Trails Coalition is comprised of the Canadian Trails Federation (CTF), the Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors’ Council (COHVC), and the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations (CCSO). Membership in these national level organizations is drawn from provincial and territorial organizations or from the private sector through the contributions of manufacturers and distributors of trail-related vehicles, products and services. Most trail-based activities are represented under the Coalition banner. The OFSC is represented through the CCSO.

The “Go” button was pushed on this program May 26. It is unlike anything the OFSC or its clubs and districts have tackled previously. It should not be confused with the familiar processes for investing partnership funds from the Province of Ontario. The 50-cent matching dollars come with daunting rules and criteria, defined responsibilities, strict accountability requirements, tight timelines and very specific and immobile deadlines. The working parameters are very challenging and success will be achieved by the best prepared, most organized, best-supervised and most professional applicants. It will be challenging for even an organization as well-versed in government funding projects as the OFSC and requires totally new and innovative approaches to get the job done. That’s why the OFSC is taking the lead role through a Board-appointed External Funding Task Force of volunteers who will develop provincial applications from district priorities.

Undoubtedly, there will be some dismay from some over aspects of the NTC deliverables. We don’t like to be rushed. We don’t like to be pushed. We don’t like to be held to strict rules. We don’t like to have our familiar ways intruded upon. But that is the price we have to pay for accessing a whack of previously unavailable federal funding.

Just remember: we are all in the same boat. Every trails entity in Canada that qualifies for NTC funding will face the same challenges (and some even more than us). The rules, structures and mandates that go with NTC funding, do not come from the OFSC…so don’t shoot the messenger! All the OFSC is trying to do is sort through the parameters, make them as palatable, understandable and easy as possible, and then find the best possible way to accountably invest new federal funding for the greater good of organized snowmobiling in Ontario.

If there ever was a time for TEAM OFSC to pull together, this is it…because NTC promises to be a real roller coaster ride, but one where we can seize the opportunity. So if we are really united, and good at what we do, we are very likely to have the chance to take at least some of our product to even more of a world class level! And who knows, we might even get a chance to invest even more NTC funding than originally proposed!