After 31 years, Voyageur Trail may have to close

NEWS RELEASE - VOYAGEUR TRAIL ASSOCIATION

********************* May be the end of an era

(Sault Ste. Marie, April 18, 2005) On May 1st, 2005 the Voyageur Trail Association (VTA) may have to cease operations after 31 years of existence.

The volunteer Northern Ontario organization of approximately 225 members which has struggled for two generations to build and maintain a public, pedestrian hiking trail across Northern Ontario may be done in by the rising costs of insurance.

Proud volunteers of this organization not only pay membership dues to call themselves a member, but voluntarily run the "business" of the Association, published three versions of a guidebook (and had begun work on a fourth), produced a newsletter to members and landowners three times a year for 30 years, organize public outings in various cities and towns along the route, maintain a web site, as well as build and maintain over 400 kilometres of hiking trail (outside parks) that support the following communities: Red Rock, Nipigon, Rossport, Terrace Bay, Schreiber, Marathon, Wawa, Sault Ste. Marie, Desbarats, Bruce Mines, Thessalon, Iron Bridge, Blind River, and Elliot Lake.

This considerable trail building feat was accomplished through the co-operation of private landowners, native bands and by utilizing Crown land. And over the years, federal and provincial grants totaling approximately $200,000 helped.

Since the VTA does not own the lands it has permission to walk over, they cannot guarantee their insurance company that motorized vehicles would ever cross or use the same path.

That is a decision of the person who owns or manages the land.

But this technicality is one of the deciding factors in the estimated 800 percent ($1700 to $15,000) increase in the price of this year's insurance for the group.

Having a 31-year history of of no insurance claims filed against the organization does not seem to matter.

The VTA's umbrella organization, Hike Ontario, is still trying to negotiate some reasonably priced insurance which would allow the operation to continue, at least for another year, but time is running out.

The Voyageur Trail Association is not alone in this insurance problem.

According to Hike Ontario, the trail network in Ontario has created a half billion dollar industry with more that 45,000 kilometres of trail.

At the recent regional consultations for the new "Ontario Trails Strategy" the Ontario government introduced the new "Active 2010" program encouraging Ontarians to become more physically active for a healthier Ontario and a stronger tourism industry.

Trail groups complained loudly at the table that insurance rates were the number one problem facing all trail groups currently in existence and asked that it be dealt with quickly.

Legal action has forced insurance rates to rise at an ever-increasing rate.

Without any end in sight, insurance has become the largest single annual expenditure for most of the smaller hiking clubs.

This year, some of the member clubs of Hike Ontario may not be able to afford the premiums to purchase insurance.

Without insurance, the trails will be forced to close, including the 400-kilometre Voyageur Trail in Northern Ontario.

Jurisdictions such as Nova Scotia and New Hampshire have introduced legislation that limits civil liability for volunteers, but so far, Ontario has not.

The Trans Canada Trail, among others, has begun to lobby for occupier's liability legislation in each province.

Trail groups are encouraging everyone to contact their local MPP, MP and Tim Peterson, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism and Recreation (Tel: 416-326-9326 Email: tim.peterson @mtr.gov.on.ca) to let them know how important trails are to you and your family and encourage them to introduce volunteer protection legislation.

But it may come too late for these dedicated volunteers of the VTA.

The insurance runs out on April 30th and if something can't be worked out before then, the Voyageur Trail will close on May 1st, 2005.

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