Minister Announces Agreement on Labrador
Snowmobile Trail Grooming Operations

The Honourable John Hickey, Minister of Labrador Affairs, announced today the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has reached an agreement with Labrador Winter Trails Incorporated (LWT). The agreement will allow for the continued grooming of snowmobile trail trails for isolated coastal communities this season.

Under the agreement, the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs will pay approximately $85,000 to LWT for eligible expenditures from the 2007-08 snowmobile trail grooming season. LWT, in turn, has agreed to sell the Piston Edge 200 Bully groomer to the Town of North West River for $1.00.

�Officials from my department have worked with representatives from LWT over the last few weeks and this agreement is timely with the prime snowmobiling season just ahead of us,� said Minister Hickey. �The North West River groomer was originally purchased with provincial funds and I am very pleased to see it turned over to the community to groom to Separation Lake, an integral part of the North Coast Trail system.�

As well, the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs was successful in reaching an agreement with LWT for the use of some of its groomers for transportation trails this season. The department directly oversees and administers the Labrador Transportation Grooming Subsidy program.

In January, the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs entered into agreements with all of the communities and development associations that are eligible for the subsidy program. The department will work closely with development associations, Inuit Community Governments, the Nunatsiavut Government, and LWT. Department officials plan to meet in early May with appropriate stakeholders to discuss the grooming subsidy and the future of recreational trails in Labrador.

�I am extremely pleased with the work done by departmental officials on this program, and our good working relationship with the Inuit communities and the development associations,� said the Honourable Patty Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. �I am particularly pleased with our recent agreement with LWT and look forward to working with the organization on future initiatives.�

Minister Hickey noted that during this grooming season, the department is providing $200,000 towards trail improvements.

�This government realizes groomers have to travel long distances between communities and we want to support the safety of groomer operators and the travelling public. That is why for the first time the department has also hired a trail inspector, who will be based out of North West River and will monitor trail grooming and improvements,� said Minister Hickey. �Perhaps the most important advantage of a trail inspector is ensuring that trails are operating in a safe and acceptable manner.�

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Media contact:
John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Labrador and
Aboriginal Affairs
709-729-1674, 728-7762
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca 

2009 02 23                                                   10:15 a.m.