Building Canada's Network of National Trails - Canada's Economic Action Plan Delivers $25 Million for Trail Improvements

    BEAUSEJOUR, MB, March 8 /CNW Telbec/ - Vic Toews, MP for Provencher and
President of the Treasury Board, together with James Bezan, MP for
Selkirk-Interlake today attended the 47th Annual Canadian Power Toboggan
Championships and highlighted a major new job-creating investment.
    As part of Canada's Economic Action Plan to create jobs and help our
economy, the government is designating $25 million to build and improve
Canada's network of national trails.
    "This investment means more Manitobans are going to have access to
healthy living activities like cross-country skiing, running, walking, hiking
and riding. It will also inject needed stimulus into communities right across
the country," said Toews.
    "Canada's trail network helps us get to the heart of our amazing
outdoors. It enriches the health and enjoyment of countless Manitobans, and
Canadians. This funding will mean the creation of safe, public trails from
coast to coast," said Bezan.
    In order to provide the most rapid economic benefit possible during this
challenging economic time, funding will go to shovel ready projects that are
set to break ground in 2009-2010.
    This program will be jointly funded by provincial, territorial, municipal
or private funding, and will be administered in partnership with the National
Trails Coalition, a joint venture made up of the three non-profit
organizations. They include the Canadian Trails Federation, Canadian Council
of Snowmobile Organizations and the Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors
Council.
    National Trails Coalition Chairman Terry Norman called the investment "a
major boost to all forms of trail-based tourism and recreational activities."

For further information: Christine Csversko, Director of Communications,
Office of the President of the Treasury Board, [phone],
[e-mail],