News Release 

In the photo: Hon. Rob Merrifield MP for Yellowhead, Fred Lindsay MLA for Stony Plain, LeAnn Whaling from the Trail Seekers Snowmobile Club and daughter Vanessa Whaling

Canada’s Economic Action PLan FUnds Trails in yellowhead

OTTAWA, November 10, 2009 – Rob Merrifield, Member of Parliament for Yellowhead and Fred Lindsay, MLA for Stony Plain today announced joint federal-provincial funding for The Trail Seekers Snowmobile Club to improve recreational trails in the region. 

The Trail Seekers Snowmobile Club will receive $117,844 in joint federal-provincial funding to improve recreational trails.  This funding will go a long way to create jobs and revitalize trails in the area.

“The Government of Canada is providing $58,922 for to the Trail Seekers for this project,” said Hon. Rob Merrifield, Minister of State for Transport and Member of Parliament for Yellowhead.  “As part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, we are boosting local economies by creating jobs, getting shovels in the ground, and enhancing trails for outdoors enthusiasts.”

“This funding is a result of great cooperation between both levels of government,” said Fred Lindsay, MLA for Stony Plain.   “The funds for this project are good for job creation and go to a worthwhile cause to make sure people this area have the trails they need,” added Lindsay.

“We want to thank both the federal and the provincial government for their great contribution to this project,” said LeAnn Whaling of the Trail Seekers Snowmobile Club.  “We are very happy with the job-creation that has happened from this funding and the opportunity we now have to increase our recreational snowmobiling.”

This project is being supported through the Government of Canada’s $25 million investment in recreational trails, part of the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The Government of Canada’s investment will be matched by the NTC and their provincial, territorial, municipal or private funding partners.A first federal payment of $12.5 million was issued to the National Trails Coalition on (July 29, 2009).

Applications for this funding were received between May 26, 2009 and June 26, 2009. With the intake for this funding now complete and projects approved, this first payment to the National Trails Coalition is allowing work to begin right away on over 450 projects.

The NTC is made up of the following non-profit organizations and their provincial/territorial affiliates: Canadian Trails Federation, Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations and the Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council. For additional information, visitwww.ntc-canada.ca.

The Government of Canada’s 2009 Economic Action Plan is accelerating and expanding the existing federal investment of $33 billion in infrastructure across Canada with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over the next two years.

In June 2009, Prime Minister Stephen Harper was awarded the highest honour granted by the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations (CCSO) for delivering on his commitment to expand Canada’s network of national trails through the Economic Action Plan.

To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca. For more information on the Government of Canada’s investments in infrastructure, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca

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