North Bay Nugget

[Rottie]

Local News - Civic and business leaders are rallying to the aid of the North Bay Snowmobilers Club, which is threatening to shut down March 31 unless it gets immediate provincial government attention on several issues.

North Bay Mayor Vic Fedeli and Derek Shogren, the new president of the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce, said they were aware of problems in the industry, but didn’t believe they were as critical as described by the club.

“If they shut down, it would be a real black mark on our city,” Shogren said. “I just can’t imagine the thousands of dollars that would be lost and trails that wouldn’t be groomed.”

He said the chamber is establishing a committee to lobby governments on a number of fronts.

Earlier this week, club president Bill Irwin said escalating costs of trail permits and insurance, both for vehicles and the use of the trails, have pushed the club into financial chaos.

It has demanded that Queen’s Park eliminate lawsuits against the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs over alleged negligence concerning trail construction and maintenance.

The club also wants the province to relax stringent demands placed on it by the Natural Resources, Transportation and Environment ministries.

Shogren said it will make a determined effort to sit down with the club and the MNR to iron out difficulties.

“We’ve got to work together on this,” he said.

Fedeli said he is “very, very concerned” about the situation outlined by the club.

“Quite frankly, the severity of the problem seemed to come quickly. It’s alarming. We didn’t expect this,” he said.

Fedeli called snowmobiling a “big-dollar industry we can’t afford to let slide.”

He said he met with Coun. Maureen Boldt, a sledder herself, who will spearhead a drive to seek solutions to the club’s problems.

Fedeli said a meeting must be set up with Nipissing MPP Monique Smith.

[NewfieBullet]

I've got to think that it's just a threat to try and get some reaction from the government. I can't believe that the club would really shut down.

[OntRider]

Originally posted by Rottie@Dec 16 2003, 08:45 AM
It has demanded that Queen’s Park eliminate lawsuits against the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs over alleged negligence concerning trail construction and maintenance.

I cannot imagine this ever happening, but if it did, it would probably mean good things for our trail permit prices!

[Rollo D. Motoski]

“Quite frankly, the severity of the problem seemed to come quickly. It’s alarming. We didn’t expect this,” he said.

Perhaps they just weren't paying attention and the wheel (club) needed to squeak to be heard.
I think half the battle regarding funding in the sport is making ourselves heard.

[OntRider]

Originally posted by Rollo D. Motoski@Dec 16 2003, 10:01 AM
I think half the battle regarding funding in the sport is making ourselves heard.

The other half of the battle is convincing people that not all snowmobilers are careless, drunken fools...

I think most non-snowmobiler types do not realize the economic significance of snowmobiling in Ontario. I didn't believe it myself for a while, but am convinced that we do make a difference.

[revrnd]

Hopefully something will happen because of this. The province takes our registration & gas tax dollars & doles out some money when they feel like it. But they won't help the clubs or OFSC w/ fundamental problems.

They like to promote the tourism aspect & collect sales tax thru that. Maybe the new OFSC president can take Mr. Pointyhead out on a snowmobile then let him see that we aren't the hooligans the media would like to portray us as.

Until the insurance & frivolous lawsuit issues are settled, they are things that are hanging over the head of snowmobiling & other organized recreation activities.

[The Hossman]

Originally posted by revrnd@Dec 16 2003, 10:10 AM
....Maybe the new OFSC president can take Mr. Pointyhead out on a snowmobile he let him see that we aren't the hooligans the media would like to portray us as....

Good idea, but..

You just know that that will be the day that Blair Morgan Wannabe will be out on the trail, and run Mr. Pointyhead right off the trail.

Truth is, from my years of riding, the public has A LOT of reasons to hate us. There's not a weekend that goes by that I don't encounter some half-wit who runs me off the trail, doesn't signal, is going WAY too fast, has an obnoxiously loud machine, is doubling on a machine meant for one, thinks it's OK to drink and ride, or is just generally lacking in any type of common sense.

Let's take matters into our own hands, and be responsible for our own actions!!

Ride Safe, Ride Sober!

[revrnd]

Doo on a Monday, all the Morgan wannabes will be taking their sleds to the dealers to fix all the damage from the weekend

But, yeah, I know what you mean .

[IndySKS]

Didn't I suggest back in the spring that the whole snowmobiling thing should shut down until something could be done to get this insurance stuff under control ?
Well Maybe the NBSC is just the first one to have the guts to say enough already !
Hopefully some of the bigger associations stand with them and make the threat real enough to get everyone to pay attension !

I applaude the NBSC for drawing a line in the sand ! I for one are sick of working for the insuance companies