The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport), announced in March 2009, that the Government of Canada will invest $25 million in Canada's trail infrastructure as part of the federal government's Economic Action Plan. Here is a link to the government's news release: http://www.pch.gc.ca/pc-ch/infoCntr/cdm-mc/index-eng.cfm?action=doc&DocIDCd=CGL082583

It looks like a good portion of the funding will go to snowmobile and ATV users by investing in multi-use trails that allow motorized vehicles. The news release mentions walking and cross-country skiing, but the federal budget states "Budget 2009 provides $25 million to the National Trails Coalition in 2009–10 for a national initiative to create, upgrade and sustain snowmobile and all-terrain-vehicle trails throughout the country over the coming year". (Source: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2009/plan/bpc3d-eng.asp)

A few of us went to Lynn Canyon Park in North Vancouver on March 6 to hear the official announcement of the $25 million for trails.The motorized recreation sector were well represented there with an impressive showing of colourful and expensive hardware (snowmobiles, an ATV, trucks and trailers). BC's portion of the funding will be $3 million. As expected, there are many strings attached to this funding. As this funding is part of the economic stimulus package, the funds are for "shovel ready" projects, PROVIDED there are matching funds from other sources. So if we, the non-motorized trail users, can come up with a cool million dollars, we can get equal funds from the government! The Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council (ATV and dirt bike manufacturers and retailers) are part of the National Trails Coalition who will allocate the money. The other two groups in the National Trails Coalition are the Canadian Trail Federation and the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations.

However, the criteria and procedures for applying for these funds are still being developed so we will check for opportunities to get funds to improve hiking trails in BC.