Text Size
Bookmark and Share
Executive Council
December 10, 2012

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Nick McGrath, Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs:

Labrador Subsidy Provides Winter Snowmobile Access for Coastal Communities

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador remains focused on the needs of Labradorians and we are committed to ensuring that there is a winter trail system to serve coastal Labrador communities not connected to the Trans Labrador Highway.

Our Labrador Transportation Grooming Subsidy provides a total of $350,000 annually to participating community groups to help winter snowmobile access between isolated communities and the nearest service centre during the winter season.

Our Labrador Affairs Office administers this program and partners to provide service to Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik, Rigolet, Black Tickle, Norman Bay, Williams Harbour, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, North West River and Mud Lake.

The subsidy funding helps pay for groomer equipment, repairs to equipment, trail marking and upgrades. Participating communities are responsible for marking and grooming their portion of the trail and the amount of funding provided to each group is calculated according to trail length. Trail marking and grooming takes place when ice thickness and snow conditions permit, which is usually the case between mid-January and late April.

Mr. Speaker, the travelling distance between most of these remote communities is considerable and the terrain can be challenging. Our Labrador Affairs Office employs a seasonal trail inspector to ensure that grooming activity is carried out in a safe manner; and Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices have been installed in grooming machines so that they can be tracked in real-time via the Internet. This same technology is used in the Cain’s Quest Snowmobile Race and helps to support the safety of trail grooming operators.

I am proud of the positive working relationships we have developed with participating community organizations and we will continue to work together to enhance access for Labradorians in coastal communities.

2012 12 10                      2:40 p.m.

 
Last Updated:
This page and all contents are copyright, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, all rights reserved.