Snowmobilers fight to keep budget for winter trails

As winter draws closer, many snowmobile enthusiasts are starting to feel the itch to get back on their rides.

It's no differentin Prescott-Russell, two consolidated counties east of Ottawa. After local politicians debated scrapping plans to maintain the back-country trails, snowmobilersare arguing their sport is a major boost to the local economy.

Last year, county representativesbegan to question the cost of maintaining the 70-kilometre-long trail, which runs east to westthrough the area. The 2018 budget allocates $170,000 for thetrail's upkeep, but they argued it wouldn't bring in as much revenue as was being invested.

Local snowmobilersdisagree.

Trails bring jobs and tourists

"Just forPrescott-Russellthere's an economic impact of over$12-million dollars during those short two to three months,"said PascaleRoy, a spokesperson for aneastern Ontario snowmobiling club.

"And in eastern Ontario from Kingston,Arnprior,right up to Lancaster andHawkesbury, we're talking about $900-million in economic impact."

Maintaining the 70-kilometre stretch is only half the battle, as there are almost 400 kilometres of other routes maintained by volunteers.

The trails are more than a tourist draw. With sales of the machines increasing, more jobs are created.

InPrescott-Russelllast year, there were over 400 new snowmobiles sold at the two dealerships in the area, said Roy. That means 119 people remain employed over the winter and businesses benefit fromsnowmobilerswho pay for service, accommodation and supplies, he said.

But Roy admits, because of the volunteer nature of the sport, a better job needs to be done inmarketing and promoting the economic benefits ofsnowmobiling to the general public and to politicians.