For many years, people in the snowmobile world have liked to say that we have the largest network of snowmobile trails in the world with its 33,000 kilometers. With everything that is happening right now, we have to ask ourselves if the model is still suitable.
From the very beginning of the organization of the trail network, everything worked on the good faith of stakeholders, landowners, companies and others, who granted a right of passage to the various clubs in Quebec. This is what made it possible to connect the different regions of Quebec together and also to create very significant economic benefits.
In winter, certain regions only experience fallout from the activities of snowmobilers. For Quebec, it was a question of $3.8 billion in spinoffs. It could very well be that those good days are over.
What must be understood first and foremost is that club volunteers can no longer live with the threats of trail removals hanging over them every winter.
Recently, the case of Saint-Raymond de Portneuf made the headlines with a dispute with Zec Batiscan Neilson and certain landowners. If the Zec file seems settled, that of the threat of blocking paths on private land still looms. The owners are clear in their approach, if there are fees on the ZEC, they cut the rights of way. Snowmobilers therefore find themselves at the center of a conflict with which they have nothing to do.
According to our sources, a meeting took place on Monday during which all parties involved in the dispute agreed to find a solution for the coming season. However, this would be temporary and the same specter could come back to haunt the clubs next season.
SOUTH SHORE
In Chaudière-Appalaches, again, there is a threat of blocking snowmobile trails this winter, in part of the region. It is estimated that 500 kilometers would be affected out of the total of 2700 in the region.
The territories of the MRCs of Montmagny, L’Islet and Bellechasse would be partially impacted.
If the threat persists for the season, snowmobilers coming from the west who would like to go towards Bas-Saint-Laurent should take trail 35 only. It passes on the Monk section which belongs to the Ministry of Transport.
In these territories, there is a phenomenon that is currently emerging for clubs. New owners of land where the trails passed no longer want to grant rights of way. These are often people from big cities who come to settle in the countryside for their retirement.
STREAMLINE
In Chaudière-Appalaches, 35 to 40 businesses will be affected by the loss of snowmobilers this winter, a direct impact on the local economy. In the case of Saint-Raymond, the presence of snowmobilers generates economic benefits of around $3 to $4 million according to Mayor Claude Duplain. Businesses risk going out of business.
The clay-footed colossus of the snowmobile world in Quebec has broken toes. We must act before it collapses.
During the last congress of the Fédération des clubs des motoneigistes du Québec in La Malbaie, the leaders of the organization asked the clubs to think about whether they still believed they would be able to maintain their network. Currently, trail maintenance costs have exploded.
It costs $1,000 per kilometer to maintain a trail. With the drop in revenue for many clubs, combined with all the paperwork that clubs must complete to operate their trails, one has to wonder if the volunteers will hold up.
For several years, there has been talk of rationalizing the trail network. The government should sit down with the FCMQ to determine sustainable corridors that would constitute a basic network. We could then create a spine that would cross Quebec and to which local trails would be added.
The survival of snowmobiling in Quebec for the future is at stake and at the same time, the survival of several regions which experience the fallout from snowmobiling in winter. The government must take a position.
