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Developments in Ontario Trails Policy

Developments in Ontario Trails Policy Presentation by Carol Oitment, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS) Trailhead Canada 2017. Overview of the Presentation. Ontario Provincial Trails Context. Provincial Trails Stakeholder Model. Trail Legislative and Policy Developments.

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Developments in Ontario Trails Policy

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  1. Developments in Ontario Trails Policy Presentation by Carol Oitment, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS) Trailhead Canada 2017

  2. Overview of the Presentation • Ontario Provincial Trails Context. • Provincial Trails Stakeholder Model. • Trail Legislative and Policy Developments. • Current Priorities. • Themes Toward Future Policy Considerations.

  3. Ontario Provincial Trails Context • Ontario has approximately 80,000 km. of trails including land/water, motorized/non-motorized and on and off-road trails used for recreation, tourism and transportation purposes. • The province values the health, environmental, community-building and economic benefits of trails. • From 2009/10 to 2014/15, the Government of Ontario invested $130 million in trails including $3.5 million via the Pan/Parapan American Games Promotion, Celebration and Legacy Strategy. • Ontario trails roughly breakdown as: • 44.8% motorized, 30% non-motorized and 25.2% water trails (Canadian Trails Study, 2010).

  4. Provincial Trails Stakeholder Model • Key Partners/Stakeholders • Consultative Body • Government • Ontario Trails Coordinating Committee - Assistant Deputy Minister and Ontario Trails Council President Co-Chair Committee: Members include ministries/agencies and external stakeholders • Ontario Trails Council • Umbrella organization for trails • Ministry of Tourism, Culture and • Sport (MTCS) - Lead ministry on trail • planning/coordination • External Trail Stakeholders • Directors Working Group on Trails • Ontario PowerSport Working Group (umbrella for motorized trails) • Provincial/regional trail organizations • Regional Tourism Organizations • Others (e.g. landowner organizations) • Government Partners • Federal-Provincial/Territorial Group on Trails • MTCS Regional Services • Ontario Trillium Foundation • Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) • Ontario Place • Royal Botanical Gardens • St. Lawrence and Niagara Parks Commission

  5. Trail Legislative and Policy Developments • Ontario Trails Strategy • The Ontario Trails Strategy was launched in October 2005, as a long-term framework • for trails with a vision, core values, goals and strategic directions. • The Ontario Trails Strategy is an “all stakeholder” strategy. • The Ontario Trails Coordinating Committee (OTCC) was established in early 2006 • as the oversight body for the implementation of the Strategy and related Action Plans. • Early priorities, set by the OTCC, focused on fundamentals: • Mapping trails through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. 28,220 km. of trail and 4,630 trailheads have been mapped, as of April 2017; • Establishing a central website for trails via the Ontario Trails Council’s website; • Launching a 5 year Trails for Life funding program; • Undertaking reviews on legislation affecting trails and on off-road vehicle use; as well as various scans; • Developing a Trail User Code of Ethics through the Trent University Trails Study Unit; • Developing proposals for trails legislation; and • Influencing land and transportation planning initiatives to effectively recognize the values of trails. • The Ontario Trails Action Plan 2015-2018 was launched in 2015 with 31 Action Items.

  6. Trail Legislative and Policy DevelopmentsCont’d. • The Ontario Trails Action Plan 2015 – 2018: Sample Action Items • Legislative Framework: • Ontario Trails Act, 2016 was proclaimed September 1, 2016: • Established an annual Ontario Trails Week - inaugural week was May 29 – June 4, 2017. • Provides the Minister with the authority to: • Recognize Ontario trails of distinction – launched Trails of Distinction Program in 2017; • Establish a voluntary trails classification system – a priority targeting a spring 2018 launch; • Establish voluntary best practices; and • Establish targets to further the purposes of the Act. • Requires the Minister to maintain a trails strategy. • Sets out consultation requirements for the implementation of sections in the act. • Provides eligible bodies with a statutory mechanism to enter into voluntary trail easements, with covenants, with property owners. • Amendments were also made to the Occupiers’ Liability Act, Public Lands Act and Trespass to Property Act that clarify liability, enhance compliance and enforcement tools for managing public land and strengthen the consequences of trespassing. Complimentary changes were also made to the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act and the Off-Road Vehicles Act.

  7. Trail Legislative and Policy Developments Cont’d. • The Ontario Trails Action Plan 2015 – 2018: Sample Action Items Cont’d. • Research Framework: • The scope of economic research in the Sport Division was broadened to include trails in 2014. Off-Road Motorcycling Economic Benefit $70 million Equestrian Economic Benefit $36 million Mountain Biking Economic Benefit $730 million Cycling Economic Benefit $773 million

  8. Trail Legislative and Policy Developments Cont’d. • The Ontario Trails Action Plan 2015 – 2018: Sample Action Items Cont’d. • Host Trails Tourism Workshops with Ontario’s Regional Tourism Organizations and the Ontario Trails • Council: completed. • Implement Tour by Bike: Ontario’s Cycling Tourism Plan: launched in 2017 and is being implemented. • Implement #CycleON, Ontario’s Cycling Strategy: working collaboratively with the Ministry of • Transportation to complete Action Plan 1.0 (including a provincial cycling route) and to develop Action Plan 2.0 • as a joint venture. • Establish a Voluntary Trails Branding and Classification System: working with an Expert Panel using the • Parks Canada trails classification system as a best practice model. • Support a Renewed Strategic Business Plan for the Ontario Trails Council: underway. • Review Potential Landowner Incentives for Trails on Private Property: a scan of incentives was completed. • Host an Expert Workshop to Explore Trail-Related Insurance Coverage and Costs: target spring, 2018.

  9. Current Priorities • Implementing Existing Commitments • Action Plan 1.0 under #CycleON, Ontario’s Cycling Strategy; Ontario's Cycling Tourism Plan: Tour-by-Bike; and the Ontario Trails Action Plan 2015 – 2018, with priority on the Ontario trails classification system. • Developing the Joint MTCS/MTO Action Plan 2.0 under #CycleON • Targeting a launch of the Plan in early 2018. • Preparing for the Next Phase of the Ontario Trails Strategy • 2018 will involve a progress report and priority setting for the next phase.

  10. Themes Toward Future Policy Considerations • Well Established Themes • Healthy active living (e.g. physical/mental health) by design including built and • natural environments - active transportation, walkable/bikeable communities, active • school travel, bike-supportive public transportation/facilities and community • connectivity (e.g. systems/networks and cross-border linkages). • Aligning green space, including trails, with climate change mitigation, ecological • health, biodiversity interests and a systems approach. • Accessibility (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act - AODA). • Managing risk and insurance. • Environmentally and financially sustainable trails.

  11. Themes Toward Future Policy Considerations Cont’d. • Developing Themes • Year-round trail use. • Integration of cultural and natural heritage elements. • Water trails. • Trail capacity. • Trails research. • Protection of remote values and experiences.

  12. Themes Toward Future Policy Considerations Cont’d. • “Hot” Themes • Trails tourism. • Cycling and cycling tourism. • Collaboration and consistency. • Trails training and education.

  13. Addendum 1: Contact Information and Links • Contact Information • Carol Oitment, Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport • carol.oitment@ontario.ca; 416-314-7205. • Links • The Ontario Trails Strategy: • http://www.mtc.gov.on.ca/en/sport/recreation/A2010_TrailStrategy.pdf. • The Trails Action Plan 2015/16 to 2017/18 • http://lin.ca/sites/default/files/attachments/trails-action-plan-final-Dec-2015.pdf • Tour by Bike: Ontario’s Cycling Tourism Plan: • http://www.mtc.gov.on.ca/en/tourism/pdf/cycling_plan.pdf. • The Ontario Trails Act, 2016 • https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/16o08 • List of all available funding programs at Grants Ontario website: www.grants.gov.on.ca.

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