Parry Sound – Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith has issued a statement over mounting concerns concerning the future of Muskoka’s snowmobiling trails.
The District received a request from the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) be entered for all landowners, including municipalities, whose properties some trails cross. Without these signed agreements, the trails will not appear on the OFSC’s snowmobile map. However, the Muskoka District’s insurance provider has raised concerns regarding the liability that the District would assume as a result of this proposed MOU.
The Muskoka trail network crosses over hundreds of individual parcels of land, and 50 of those are owned by the District of Muskoka. Unsigned MOU’s could leave the Muskoka region – and other municipalities across Ontario – with substantially fewer snowmobile trails essential to the lucrative tourism industry.
Late Sunday evening (December 15th), MPP Graydon Smith issued the following news release.
“Recently, it has come to my attention that there is considerable concern amongst snowmobilers and local businesses about the District of Muskoka potentially opposing a request, presented by the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile clubs, that would allow trails to operate as they have for decades in our area.
As someone who grew up in Muskoka riding those trails often, and as someone whose parents’ small business benefited from the economic benefits that snowmobiling provides our area, I’m hopeful that District Council will be able to support a direction that allows the continuation of an activity that helps define us as Muskokans.
I have always and will always support the snowmobile clubs and snowmobilers of Parry Sound-Muskoka. Snowmobiling is a part of our cultural fabric, and I’ll do everything I can to ensure its continued success and viability.
Clearly, winter is off to a roaring start. Let’s hope we can all take advantage of what we have been given to have a fun winter that makes the most of our incredible, unsurpassed trails.”
A meeting is scheduled for December 16th in Bracebridge. We’ll continue to update this story.
OFSC INTERACTIVE TRAIL & GO GUIDE
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