Canadian government taking applications for trails funds

A program aimed at building and upgrading trails as well as creating jobs for Canadians took another step forward when the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport), and Terry Norman, national coordinator for the National Trails Coalition (NTC), launched the call for applications for the Government of Canada’s $25 million investment in recreational trails, part of the Government’s 2009 Economic Action Plan.

“Our Government sees this investment as a win for recreational trails, a win for everyone who uses healthy living space, and a win for job creation and investment in communities across Canada,” says Minister of State Lunn. “Shovel ready projects that are set to break ground in 2009-2010 will create new and better trail infrastructure for a variety of trail users such as hiking, cycling, equestrian, ATVs, cross country skiing and snowmobiling, just to name a few. Even better, these projects will leave a lasting legacy of trail infrastructure that will benefit Canadians for years to come.”

The funds will be used to create, upgrade and sustain non-motorized, snowmobile and all-terrain-vehicle trails throughout the country. Eligible projects will include the construction of new trails, the upgrade, improvement and rehabilitation of existing trails and bridge and water crossings, improved signage as well as trail surveying and tracking. The Government of Canada’s investment of $25 million will be matched by the NTC and their provincial, territorial, municipal or private funding partners.

“The NTC was founded in the belief that trail users and volunteer trail builders/managers can achieve much more by working collaboratively and supporting each other’s goals,” says Norman. “Thanks to the support of our Federal Government, trail user groups can now apply for one year project funding to facilitate trail building, refurbishment, and upgrade activities that will be beneficial to the long term sustainability of all forms of trail-based activities across Canada.”

The NTC is made up of the following non-profit organizations and their provincial/territorial affiliates: Canadian Trails Federation, Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations and the Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council.Organizations can access information, applications and guidelines for project proposal submissions at NTC-Canada.ca.

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