What is it?

• The Ontario Trails Strategy is a long-term plan that establishes strategic directions for planning, managing, promoting and using trails in Ontario

Who developed it?

• Government and stakeholders in a collaborative and highly consultative process
• Ministries responsible for tourism, transportation, agriculture, food, and rural affairs; citizenship, culture, public infrastructure, finance, natural resources, northern development and mines, Aboriginal affairs, environment, former Management Board and the office of the Attorney General
• Stakeholder organizations represented trails, the agricultural community, the municipal sector, landowners, foresters, fur traders, and environmental, cultural/heritage, conservation/stewardship, outdoor recreation and tourism interests 

What types of trails will the Strategy focus on?

The Ontario Trails Strategy will focus on all single and shared-use outdoor designated trail networks in urban, rural and wilderness settings that are used for recreation, active living, utilitarian and tourism purposes including but not limited to:

• Trails with natural (e.g. hiking, cross-country skiing) or treated surfaces (e.g. bicycle greenways/paths/lanes)
• On-road bicycle routes
• Walkways, boardwalks and sidewalks
• Trails located on transportation and utility corridors
• Access roads (i.e. for forestry and mining) “designated” for trail use
• Trails that are integrated with public transit services
• Waterway routes (e.g. along designated Canadian heritage rivers including the French, Humber, Mattawa, Rideau and Thames Rivers) and portage routes

July 2003 – established an inter-ministerial Directors’ Working Group on Trails

December 2004 – established a Minister’s Advisory Committee

Winter 2005 – hosted workshops on trail related topics

February to March 2005 – hosted regional consultations

April to May - developed the Strategy

October 6, 2005 - the Strategy was launched which includes $3.5 million in funding over five years for implementation

A world-class system of diversified trails, planned and used in an environmentally responsible manner, that enhances the health and prosperity of all Ontarians.

• Respect private and public lands, including agricultural lands, Crown lands and the traditional land-use areas of Aboriginal communities
• Protect, conserve and appreciate the environment and cultural and natural heritage features
• Provide a variety of trail opportunities in keeping with the diverse nature of Ontario’s population
• Value regional differences and support local decision-making
• Adopt good planning principles and approaches

• Improve collaboration among stakeholders
• Enhance the sustainability of Ontario’s trails
• Enhance the trail experience
• Educate Ontarians about trails
• Foster better health and a strong economy through trails

The Ontario Trails Strategy contains 52 deliverables that will support “a world class system of diversified trails, planned and used in an environmentally responsible manner, that enhances the health and prosperity of all Ontarians.” As of July, 2006 the status of key deliverables is:

• A Coordinating Committee has been established that meets three times per year
• The Ministry of Health Promotion and the Ministry of Natural Resources have signed a Memorandum Of Understanding to map Ontario trails
• A central website for trails will be created this year through a Trails For Life grant awarded to the Ontario Trails Council
• A review of legislation affecting trails is under way
• A review of off-road vehicle use is under development
• A total of 17 trails related grants were issued in 2005 -2006 and 17 grants have been issued in 2006 - 2007, totalling $440,000

Trails for Life is a provincial grants program with a commitment to provide up to $440,000 in grants annually for the next five years. The goal of the Trails for Life funding program is to:

Increase physical activity of Ontarians and the health and economic benefits of trails through strategic investments that support a higher quality of life.

The Ministry of Health Promotion, through strategic investments, will provide grants to support policy, research and implementation projects with a provincial scope that address one or more of the following strategic directions of the Ontario Trails Strategy:

• Improving collaboration among stakeholders
• Enhancing the sustainability of Ontario’s trails
• Enhancing the trail experience
• Educating Ontarians about trails
• Fostering better health and a strong economy through trails

The 2006-2007 Trails For Life grants have been awarded and the projects have been listed here: Trails For Life.