SNOWMOBILE THIEF MAY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO IF DISTRICT CUTS OFF ITS SLED TRAILS DUE TO PROPERTY RIGHTS, INSURANCE FEARS

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

MUSKOKA — All this snow and nowhere to go?

That’s the fear of snowmobilers today as Muskoka District Council is debating about possible trail restrictions this evening involving property rights, insurance and district roads liability.

It’s gotten serious enough that MPP Graydon Smith has shown his support for keeping them fully open locally.

This as a thief drove off with a sled Saturday at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, where police are looking for a suspect who forcibly entered a building and stole a new Yamaha snowmobile.

The snowmobile was not yet ready or service for use nor did it have any registration identifiers on it. It is unknown how the snowmobile was removed from the property but public trails run beside the location.

Property owners who have granted permission to local snowmobile clubs and other snowmobile operators are asked to keep an eye open on the trails in the event the stolen snowmobile is left behind.

Meanwhile, the OSF (Ontario Snowmobile Federation) is working to keep the trails open.

In a release Sunday, Smith wrote: “There is considerable concern amongst snowmobilers and local businesses about the District of Muskoka potentially opposing a request, presented by the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, which would allow trails to operate as they have for decades in our area.

“As someone who grew up in Muskoka riding those trails often, and as someone whose parents’ small business benefited from the economic benefits that snowmobiling provides our area, I’m hopeful that District Council will be able to support a direction that allows the continuation of an activity that helps define us as Muskokans.

“I have always and will always support the snowmobile clubs and snowmobilers of Parry Sound-Muskoka. Snowmobiling is a part of our cultural fabric, and I’ll do everything I can to ensure its continued success and viability.

“Clearly, winter is off to a roaring start. Let’s hope we can all take advantage of what we have been given to have a fun winter that makes the most of our incredible, unsurpassed trails.”

The issue stems from a Nov. 18 district engineering and public works meeting, where the committee directed staff to enter into discussions and negotiate an agreement with the Local Snowmobile Clubs (LCS) and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs and report back to the district Dec. 16.

Originally the district had request for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with LSCs and Muskoka allowing use of trails on its properties and roads.

However staff received initial advice from its insurance provider that has raised concerns regarding the liability Muskoka would assume as a result of the proposed MOU.

Former Muskoka Lakes mayor Phil Harding, who serves on the board of Muskoka Lakes Snow Trails snowmobiling club spoke in favour of negotiating with the clubs last month.

“The Insurers of the OFSC have stated unequivocally that without a signed MOU – the District will not only be on their own for any and all liability should a snowmobiler have an issue– but more importantly, that each local club will be forced to close any trail that crosses District Lands as the OFSC will make them,” he said. “In round numbers there are 50 plus parcels of district owned lands utilized by snowmobiles. In effect it will shut down all snowmobiling in Muskoka as keeping small portions of a trail network open without connecting trails would be ridiculous.”

Jim Ware, a Barrie snowmobiler, claimed in a letter to Barrie MPP Andrea Khanjn the in the Muskoka District 7 OFSC snowmobilers account for:

• Visitor spending in 2023 of $126 million; with a GDP contribution of $63 million
• 529 jobs
• Taxes: of $14 million federally, $15 million provincially and $2.5 million municipally

District council meets Monday night, Dec. 17, in Bracebridge.

 

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