ONTARIO TRAILS STRATEGY

1. ONTARIO TRAILS STRATEGY Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport Presentation to Trailhead Ontario June 18th, 2012

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS • Provincial Governance of the Ontario Trails Strategy; • Provincial Investment in Ontario Trails; • Accomplishments; • Current Considerations/Inter-ministerial Activities; and • Future Considerations.

3. PROVINCIAL GOVERNANCE OF THE ONTARIO TRAILS STRATEGY National Trail Interests Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS) as designated lead on trail policy planning and coordinating matters across government Ontario Trails Strategy as the framework for decision-making Ontario Trails Council Ontario Trails Coordinating Committee (ADM co-chaired with Ontario Trails Council’s President – 14 ministries and 14 stakeholders) (ADM Phil Malcolmson) Directors Working Group on Trails (Chaired by ADM Phil Malcolmson) • Key External Partners • (to be engaged, if/when required) • Provincial and regional trail groups (e.g. Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, the Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicles, Share the Road, Hike Ontario etc.) • Regional Tourism • Organizations • Others • MTCS Trails Team • Carol Oitment: Lead • Support from Corporate Policy as required • Tourism Policy and Development Division • Tourism Planning and Operations Division • Corporate Services Division • Regional Services (MCI) • Internal Partners (to be engaged if/when required) • Pan Am Secretariat • Ontario Trillium Foundation • Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) • Royal Botanical Gardens • St. Lawrence Parks Commission • Niagara Parks Commission • Others

4. PROVINCIAL INVESTMENT IN ONTARIO TRAILS 2009/10 - 2011/12

5. ACCOMPLISHMENTS • The Ontario Trails Coordinating Committee (OTCC) was established in 2006. • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MNR 2005 through 2015 to map trails with more than 1,555 trailheads (representing over 16,000 km. of trail) and over 4,200 km. of trail segments mapped to date. • Access Agreements for trail purposes on former rail rights-of-way as a first step toward a policy. • Reviews of Legislation Affecting Trails and of Off-Road Vehicle Use. • Established an award winning central website for trails through the Ontario Trails Council.

6. ACCOMPLISHMENTSCONT’D. • The OTCC developed proposals to address trail needs and issues for Government’s consideration. • Partnered in the development of the Draft Ontario Recreation Framework with Parks and Recreation Ontario and the Ontario Trails Council. • The Provincial Government has supported exemplary programs/events including Doors Open in partnership with the Ontario Heritage Trust, the War of 1812 Bi-Centennial Celebrations (includes Route 1812) and the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure. • Policy influence - the Provincial Policy Statement, Growth Plan, Greenbelt Plan, Secondary Use Policy for Hydro Corridors, Metrolinx’s Big Move, Transit Supportive Guidelines, Tourism Competitiveness Study and others all address trails for recreational and/or active transportation purposes.

7. CURRENT CONSIDERATIONS • Pan American Games trails legacy. • Ontario Trails Coordinating Committee (OTCC) – establish as a permanent body with the President of the Ontario Trails Council as co-chair with the Ministry’s Assistant Deputy Minister. • Consider the legislative and policy proposals of the OTCC: • Trails Act; • Minor amendments to the Occupiers’ Liability Act, the Public Lands Act and the Trespass to Property Act; and • Policy considerations regarding trails and the Provincial Policy Statement, landowner incentives, provincial highway planning and the future use/ownership of former rail rights-of-way. • Study on funding models to assist the not-for-profit trails community. • A review of the Ontario Trails Strategy.

8. CURRENT NTERMINISTERIAL ACTIVITIES • Internal to government working groups that affect trails include the: • Active Transportation Working Group (Ministry of Transportation); • Biodiversity Network (Ministry of Natural Resources); • Provincial Policy Statement (Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing); • Built environment trail standard under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (Ministry of Community and Social Services Disability Directorate); • Algonquin Land Claim (Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs); • Proposed new Great Lakes Act; and • Back to Nature Network (Royal Botanical Gardens and Parks and Recreation Ontario).

9. Trails tourism (Regional Tourism Organizations); Power sports; Coastal trails; Trail linkages to nature/parks/green infrastructure; Role of trails in community design for active living through recreation and active transportation; and Role of trails in supporting the advancement of the active school travel planning policy agenda. FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS RAISED BY TRAIL STAKEHOLDERS

10. STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION • Rick Beaver, Director Sport, Recreation and Community Programs (SRCP) Division Tel: (416) 314-7696 Email rick.beaver@ontario.ca • Craig Stewart, Manager SRCP Division Tel: (416) 314-7791 Email: craig.stewart@ontario.ca • Carol Oitment, Trails Policy Lead, SRCP Division Tel: (416) 314-7205 Email: carol.oitment@ontario.ca

11. APPENDIX #1: EXISITNG MEMBERS OF THE ONTARIO TRAILS COORDINATING COMMITTEE EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS • Ontario Trails Council; • Ontario Federation of Agriculture; • Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario; • Disabilities Representative; • Active Transportation Representative; • Aboriginal Representative; • Ontario Stewardship Program; • Conservation Ontario; • Association of Municipalities of Ontario; • Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters; and • Trails Study Unit, Trent University. Note: 3 additional organizations will be invited to join the OTCC. MINISTRIES/AGENCIES • Tourism, Culture and Sport; • Attorney General; • Municipal Affairs and Housing; • Natural Resources; • Transportation; • Northern Development and Mines; • Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; • Finance; • Infrastructure; • Citizenship and Immigration; • Ontario Provincial Police; and • Ontario Heritage Trust. Note:1 additional ministry will be invited to join the OTCC.