Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
February 23, 2009
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.
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