Building Canada’s Network of National Trails Canada’s Economic Action Plan Delivers $25 Million for Trail Improvements

March 08, 2009

Beausejour, MB — Vic Toews, MP for Provencher and President of the Treasury Board, together with James Bezan, MP for Selkirk-Interlake today attended the 47th Annual Canadian Power Toboggan Championships and highlighted a major new job-creating investment.

As part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan to create jobs and help our economy, the government is designating $25 million to build and improve Canada’s network of national trails. 

“This investment means more Manitobans are going to have access to healthy living activities like cross-country skiing, running, walking, hiking and riding.  It will also inject needed stimulus into communities right across the country,” said Toews.

“Canada’s trail network helps us get to the heart of our amazing outdoors. It enriches the health and enjoyment of countless Manitobans, and Canadians.  This funding will mean the creation of safe, public trails from coast to coast,” said Bezan.

In order to provide the most rapid economic benefit possible during this challenging economic time, funding will go to shovel ready projects that are set to break ground in 2009-2010.

This program will be jointly funded by provincial, territorial, municipal or private funding, and will be administered in partnership with the National Trails Coalition, a joint venture made up of the three non-profit organizations. They include the Canadian Trails Federation, Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations and the Canadian  Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council.

National Trails Coalition Chairman Terry Norman called the investment “a major boost to all forms of trail-based tourism and recreational activities."