ONTARIO TRAILS STRATEGY
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport
Presentation to Trailhead Ontario June 18th, 2012
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 Provincial Governance of the Ontario Trails Strategy;
 Provincial Investment in Ontario Trails;
 Accomplishments;
 Current Considerations/Inter-ministerial Activities; and
 Future Considerations.
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PROVINCIAL GOVERNANCE OF THE ONTARIO TRAILS STRATEGY
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and
Sport (MTCS) as designated lead on
trail policy planning and coordinating
matters across government
Ontario Trails Strategy as the
framework for decision-making
National
Trail
Interests
Directors Working Group on
Trails (Chaired by ADM Phil
Malcolmson)
Ontario Trails
Council
Key External Partners
(to be engaged, if/when
required)
Provincial and regional
trail
groups (e.g. Ontario
Federation of Snowmobile
Clubs, the Ontario
Federation of All Terrain
Vehicles, Share the Road,
Hike Ontario etc.)
 Regional Tourism
Organizations
 Others

Ontario Trails Coordinating
Committee (ADM co-chaired with
Ontario Trails Council’s President – 14
ministries and 14 stakeholders)
(ADM Phil Malcolmson)
MTCS Trails Team
Carol Oitment: Lead
Support from Corporate Policy as required
Internal Partners (to be
engaged if/when required)






Tourism Policy and Development
Division
Tourism Planning and Operations
Division
Corporate Services Division
Regional Services (MCI)





Pan Am Secretariat
Ontario Trillium Foundation
Ontario Tourism Marketing
Partnership Corporation
(OTMPC)
Royal Botanical Gardens
St. Lawrence Parks
Commission
Niagara Parks Commission
Others
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PROVINCIAL INVESTMENT IN ONTARIO TRAILS
2009/10 - 2011/12
TYPE/SOURCE OF INVESTMENT
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
TOTAL
Non-Capital Project Investment
MHPS Healthy Communities Fund Local and Provincial
$105,000.00
$667,032.00
$338,315.00
$1,110,347.00
Ontario Trillium Foundation
$1,063,348.00
$130,929.00
$898,068.00
$2,092,345.00
Ministry of Tourism and Culture
$3,025,000.00
$3,198,200.00
$3,212,000.00*
$9,435,200.00
Total Non-Capital Project
Investment
$4,193,348.00
$3,996,161.00
$4,448,383.00
$12,637,892.00
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
TOTAL
$4,787,529.50
$6,830,684.50
N/A
$11,618,214.00
OMAFRA Building Canada Fund:
Communities Component Intake 2
$108,333.00
N/A
N/A
$108,333.00
Ontario Trillium Foundation
$981,552.00
$558,171.00
$442,332.00
$1,982,055.00
N/A
N/A
$400,000.00
$400,000.00
OMAFRA Infrastructure Stimulus
Fund
$47,370,000.00
$111,666.00
N/A
$47,481,666.00
Total Capital Project Investment
$53,247,414.50
$7,500,521.50
$842,332.00
$61, 590,268.00
Capital Project Investment
Capital Project Investment
MHPS Recreational Infrastructure
Canada (RInC)
MTC
TOTAL INVESTMENT
*Product Development for MTCS
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$57,440,762.50
$11,496,682.50
$5,290,715.00
$74,228,160.00
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 The Ontario Trails Coordinating Committee (OTCC)
was established in 2006.
 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MNR
2005 through 2015 to map trails with more than
1,555 trailheads (representing over 16,000 km. of
trail) and over 4,200 km. of trail segments mapped
to date.
 Access Agreements for trail purposes on former rail
rights-of-way as a first step toward a policy.
 Reviews of Legislation Affecting Trails and of OffRoad Vehicle Use.
 Established an award winning central website for
trails through the Ontario Trails Council.
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The OTCC developed proposals to address trail needs and issues
for Government’s consideration.

Partnered in the development of the Draft Ontario Recreation
Framework with Parks and Recreation Ontario and the Ontario
Trails Council.

The Provincial Government has supported exemplary
programs/events including Doors Open in partnership with the
Ontario Heritage Trust, the War of 1812 Bi-Centennial Celebrations
(includes Route 1812) and the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure.

Policy influence - the Provincial Policy Statement, Growth Plan,
Greenbelt Plan, Secondary Use Policy for Hydro Corridors,
Metrolinx’s Big Move, Transit Supportive Guidelines, Tourism
Competitiveness Study and others all address trails for recreational
and/or active transportation purposes.
CONT’D.
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CURRENT CONSIDERATIONS
 Pan American Games trails legacy.
 Ontario Trails Coordinating Committee (OTCC) –
establish as a permanent body with the President of the
Ontario Trails Council as co-chair with the Ministry’s
Assistant Deputy Minister.
 Consider the legislative and policy proposals of the
OTCC:
•
•
•
Trails Act;
Minor amendments to the Occupiers’ Liability Act, the Public
Lands Act and the Trespass to Property Act; and
Policy considerations regarding trails and the Provincial
Policy Statement, landowner incentives, provincial highway
planning and the future use/ownership of former rail rightsof-way.
 Study on funding models to assist the not-for-profit trails
community.
 A review of the Ontario Trails Strategy.
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CURRENT NTERMINISTERIAL ACTIVITIES
 Internal to government working groups that affect
trails include the:
• Active Transportation Working Group (Ministry of
Transportation);
• Biodiversity Network (Ministry of Natural Resources);
• Provincial Policy Statement (Ministry of Municipal
Affairs and Housing);
• Built environment trail standard under the Accessibility
for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (Ministry of
Community and Social Services Disability Directorate);
• Algonquin Land Claim (Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs);
• Proposed new Great Lakes Act; and
• Back to Nature Network (Royal Botanical Gardens and
Parks and Recreation Ontario).
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FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS RAISED
BY TRAIL STAKEHOLDERS
 Trails tourism (Regional Tourism Organizations);
 Power sports;
 Coastal trails;
 Trail linkages to nature/parks/green infrastructure;
 Role of trails in community design for active living through
recreation and active transportation; and
 Role of trails in supporting the advancement of the active
school travel planning policy agenda.
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STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION
• Rick Beaver, Director Sport, Recreation and Community Programs
(SRCP) Division
Tel: (416) 314-7696
Email rick.beaver@ontario.ca
• Craig Stewart, Manager SRCP Division
Tel: (416) 314-7791
Email: craig.stewart@ontario.ca
• Carol Oitment, Trails Policy Lead, SRCP Division
Tel: (416) 314-7205
Email: carol.oitment@ontario.ca
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APPENDIX #1: EXISITNG MEMBERS OF THE
ONTARIO TRAILS COORDINATING COMMITTEE
EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS
1. Ontario Trails Council;
2. Ontario Federation of Agriculture;
3. Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario;
4. Disabilities Representative;
5. Active Transportation Representative;
6. Aboriginal Representative;
7. Ontario Stewardship Program;
8. Conservation Ontario;
9. Association of Municipalities of Ontario;
10. Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters;
and
11. Trails Study Unit, Trent University.
MINISTRIES/AGENCIES
1.
Tourism, Culture and Sport;
2.
Attorney General;
3.
Municipal Affairs and Housing;
4.
Natural Resources;
5.
Transportation;
6.
Northern Development and Mines;
7.
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs;
8.
Finance;
9.
Infrastructure;
10.
Citizenship and Immigration;
11.
Ontario Provincial Police; and
12.
Ontario Heritage Trust.
Note: 3 additional organizations will be
invited to join the OTCC.
Note:1 additional ministry will be invited to
join the OTCC.
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