Concerns over liability and agreements have caused District councillors to worry about the future of snowmobile trail access in Muskoka.
During the latest District Engineering and Public Works Committee meeting, councillors voted against two District staff recommendations concerning snowmobiling for the upcoming season.
A report recommended that District staff obtain legal and risk management advice regarding a new MOU with the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) and report back with recommendations. Staff also recommended prohibiting access for snowmobiles on Muskoka Road 118 from the east limit of Carr Road to the east limit of Brackenrig Road.
Phil Harding, who serves on the board of Muskoka Lakes Snow Trails snowmobiling club and was formerly the mayor of Muskoka Lakes Township, attended to speak out against the recommendations.
“The Insurers of the OFSC have stated unequivocally that without a signed MOU – the District will not only be on their own for any and all liability should a snowmobiler have an issue–but more importantly, that each local club will be forced to close any trail that crosses District lands as the OFSC will make them,” said Harding. “In round numbers, there are 50 plus parcels of District-owned lands utilized by snowmobiles – in effect, it will shut down all snowmobiling in Muskoka as keeping small portions of a trail network open without connecting trails would be ridiculous.”
Harding said keeping the trails open this winter is vital to the economic well-being of Muskoka during the off-season.
“According to best estimates, snowmobiling in Muskoka represents over $125 million annually for the economy,” said Harding.
Harding also argued the staff’s recommendation to close a section of Highway 118 on Muskoka Lake was a misinterpretation of the District bylaws.
The committee sided with Harding on both recommendations.
Current Muskoka Lakes Mayor Peter Kelley said the trail situation needs to be sorted out immediately to ensure the season goes ahead as planned.
“This is the backbone of 90% of our economy from Jan 1 to March 31,” he said.
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Patrick Flanagan, those are not my numbers! Here’s the full report found here: https://www.ofsc.on.ca/2023/11/09/snowmobile-trails-in-ontario-can-generate-annual-economic-impact-up-to-6b/
Barrie, ON. November 9, 2023) – The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) has released a new study, “The Economic Impact of Snowmobile Trails in Ontario”, based on expenditure data from the 2022-2023 season. This 2023 report clearly shows that the provincial network of over 30,000 kilometres of OFSC Prescribed Snowmobile Trails is Ontario’s most valuable recreational trail network and a key pillar of our winter tourism economy. As a volunteer-led, not-for-profit association with 181 member organizations, the OFSC manages these premier snowmobile trails, which connect snowbelt communities while providing safe, enjoyable, and environmentally sustainable riding experiences for Ontarians.
The new study found that in the 2022-2023 season, expenditures by snowmobilers riding OFSC snowmobile trails increased to $1.48 billion, up from $843 million in 2019. In turn, these 2022-2023 expenditures resulted in an estimated $3 billion of snowmobiling-related economic activity for Ontario. Meanwhile, snowmobile trails directly supported 9,307 full time jobs in 2022-2023, while generating $538 million in taxes across three levels of government: $239 million in federal taxes, $258 million in provincial taxes, and $41 million in municipal taxes.
Despite low snow conditions in some locations last winter, the $3 billion of 2022-2023 economic activity is almost double that reported in two previous studies: $1.6 billion in 2019 and $1.7 billion in 2014. Therefore, the new study estimates that OFSC snowmobile trails have the potential to generate a total annual economic impact of between $3 billion and $6 billion in any given season, dependent on factors such as weather. For the first time, the study also assessed the total monetary value that OFSC snowmobile club volunteers contribute to Ontario’s economy as more than $16.4 million annually.
“This study reaffirms our position that Ontario’s winter tourism economy runs on snowmobiling,” said Ryan Eickmeier, OFSC CEO. “The economic impact of our snowmobile trails is especially important to rural and northern Ontario, and the contributions our volunteers make each and every year is truly remarkable. ”
The OFSC retained Harry Cummings & Associates (HCA) Ltd to assess the impact of snowmobile trails during the winter of 2022-23, using the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport’s Tourism Regional Economic Impact Model (TREIM). This study is an update to others conducted by HCA in 2014 and 2019, and also includes a breakdown of economic impact numbers for each of the OFSC’s 16 districts.
A copy of the new report can be found here: 2022-2023 Economic Impact Study
In a Doppler article on Jan 24, 2024, a snowmobiling advocate claimed that “snowmobiling generated $1.6 billion in economic gains across Ontario and $126 million in Muskoka alone”. I questioned the reasonableness of those numbers, and after looking into the report from which they were derived, wrote a response to that article showing that they were ludicrously overstated. I suggested that the real economic gain for Muskoka was closer to $10 million than to $126 million. By extension, a reasonable estimate of the economic gain for all of Ontario would be in the area of $100 million.
Bill McNeice now claims “Snowmobiling-related Economic Activity for Ontario: $3B – $6B Annually”. I guess if you are going to pull numbers out of the air, you might as well go big. Perhaps if enough people believe you, they may be willing to accept the many negatives associated with the “sport” of snowmobiling.
Bob Braan, many would suggest your comments are ‘silly and not correct’. Here’s a recap of the economic impact snowmobiling has province wide. You can search this on OFSC.ca.
2022-2023 At A Glance
Snowmobiling-related Economic Activity for Ontario: $3B – $6B Annually
Expenditures by OFSC Snowmobile Trail Riders: $1.48 Billion
Full Time Jobs Supported by OFSC Snowmobile Trails: 9,307
Taxes Generated by OFSC Snowmobile Trails: $538 Million
If you work the numbers it’s easy to conclude snowmobiling contributes $125M to the area and really is the backbone of the winter month’s economy. You go on to describe, what we in the sport consider, a disrespectful few that break the rules. You find the same individuals in any group activity in the province; motorcycling, ski hills, golf courses, ATV trails, concerts etc. I have no idea why you comment on the tragic deaths and loss of loved ones that happen in our sport. We know the risks and most incidents are avoidable. If the sport is not for you, so be it. But many, many in Muskoka choose this sport as their winter activity and many others choose to travel here to enjoy the sport and spend their hard earned dollars in the local economy.
Many townships in Ontario, where the 30,000kms of trails cross, have gladly entered into MOUs with local snowmobile clubs (5 townships for my local Club) to ensure the OFSC liability insurance is afforded to the township. The trails have always been there with township approval; now it will be in writing.
We sure hope Muskoka Lakes enters the MOU soon so all the volunteer hours put in already to prepare trails isn’t wasted and to ensure Muskoka Lakes has the benefit of the insurance available to them.
Snowmobiling is the “backbone of 90% of our economy from Jan 1 to March 31?”
What a silly, incorrect statement.
Like it or not the snowmobile season is getting shorter and shorter in Muskoka.
Trails are only open for a few weeks, if at all, here any more.
Good riddance.
Drinking, speeding, excessive noise, playing submarine and choking, 2 stroke stink. All part of it.
Headline: Two Snowmobile Collisions This Past Weekend
Headline: Two Gravenhurst men charged same day with unsafe snowmobiling
Headline: Snowmobile Safety Week begins with 3 deaths in 2 Georgian Bay incidents
Headline: Rider dead in snowmobile/train collision
You have to dive into a snowbank to get out of the way walking with your child when they roar up the sidewalk.
If a Harley motorcycle did that in the summer it would be a big deal.
“While trespassing has always been an issue, the Club says this year is the worst they have seen.”
Snowmobilers typically just run over “Trail Closed” and “No Trespassing” signs.
Everyone’s front and back yard are highways for them.