ONTARIO TRAILS STRATEGY Ministry of Tourism, Culture and

SportPresentation to Trailhead Ontario June 18th, 2012

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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

Directors Working Group on

Trails (Chaired by ADM Phil Malcolmson)

Ontario Trails CoordinatingCommittee (ADM co-chaired withOntario Trails Council’s President –

14 ministries and 14 stakeholders)(ADM Phil Malcolmson)

MTCS Trails Team

Carol Oitment: LeadSupport from Corporate Policy as

required

Tourism Policy and Development Division

Tourism Planning and Operations Division

Corporate Services Division Regional Services (MCI)

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

Internal Partners (to be engaged if/when required)

Pan Am Secretariat Ontario Trillium

Foundation Ontario Tourism

Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) Royal Botanical Gardens St. Lawrence Parks Commission Niagara Parks

Commission Others

National Trail

Interests

Ontario Trails Council

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PROVINCIAL INVESTMENT IN ONTARIO TRAILS

2009/10 - 2011/12TYPE/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

Capital Project Investment    

Capital Project Investment 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 TOTAL

MHPS Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) $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

MTC 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

TOTAL INVESTMENT*Product Development for MTCS $57,440,762.50 $11,496,682.50 $5,290,715.00 $74,228,160.00

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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 Off-Road Vehicle Use.

Established an award winning central website for trails through the Ontario Trails Council.

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS CONT’D.

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.

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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 rights-of-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 STAKEHOLDERS1. 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;

and11. Trails Study Unit, Trent University.

Note: 3 additional organizations will be invited to join the OTCC.

MINISTRIES/AGENCIES1. 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; and12. Ontario Heritage Trust.

Note:1 additional ministry will be invited to

join the OTCC.