2026 Ontario season

[95rxl650]

Half mill is a nice boost for sure, but what costs are associated with getting the work completed? And are these projects underway or caught up in bureaucratic bs for another year or two. Do individual clubs have to jump through hoops to get the assistance? 

Forgive my ignorance...I just dont know. I find it difficult to believe it would be easy to get hands on the money and put it on the trails. 

[yamadan700]

49 minutes ago, 95rxl650 said:

Half mill is a nice boost for sure, but what costs are associated with getting the work completed? And are these projects underway or caught up in bureaucratic bs for another year or two. Do individual clubs have to jump through hoops to get the assistance? 

Forgive my ignorance...I just dont know. I find it difficult to believe it would be easy to get hands on the money and put it on the trails. 

These were projects that the OFSC was going to be footing the entire bills for. This investment will now pay for half.

It is now a 50/50 deal. 

[95rxl650]

29 minutes ago, yamadan700 said:

These were projects that the OFSC was going to be footing the entire bills for. This investment will now pay for half.

It is now a 50/50 deal. 

Nice. Are these projects expected to be completed for the 25/26 season?

[yamadan700]

5 minutes ago, 95rxl650 said:

Nice. Are these projects expected to be completed for the 25/26 season?

That I don't know.

[PISTON LAKE CRUISER]

11 hours ago, Strong Farmer said:

Some of trails aren't even in northern Ontario

Which trails aren't in Northern Ontario?

[PISTON LAKE CRUISER]

2 hours ago, yamadan700 said:

These were projects that the OFSC was going to be footing the entire bills for. This investment will now pay for half.

It is now a 50/50 deal. 

I wonder who is changing the funding structure as the article states: 

"The NOHFC is funding the following nine projects that will improve trail connectivity across Northern Ontario,"

[Strong Farmer]

46 minutes ago, PISTON LAKE CRUISER said:

Which trails aren't in Northern Ontario?

French river pickerel river bridge. AL trail is kearny area. 

[signfan]

Northern Ontario is typically defined as French river north.

[signfan]

Northern Ontario is a primary geographic and quasi-administrative region of the Canadian province of Ontario, the other primary region being Southern Ontario. Most of the core geographic region is located on part of the Superior Geological Province of the Canadian Shield, a vast rocky plateau located mainly north of Lake Huron(including Georgian Bay), the French River, Lake Nipissing, and the Mattawa River. The statistical region extends south of the Mattawa River to include all of the District of Nipissing. The southern section of this district lies on part of the Grenville Geological Province of the Shield which occupies the transitional area between Northern and Southern Ontario.

[signfan]

The extended federal and provincial quasi-administrative regions of Northern Ontario have their own boundaries even further south in the transitional area that vary according to their respective government policies and requirements. Ontario government departments and agencies such as the Growth Plan for Northern Ontario and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation define Northern Ontario as all areas north of, and including, the districts of Parry Sound and Nipissing for political purposes,^[1][2] and the federal but not the provincial government also includes the district of Muskoka.

[Strong Farmer]

3 hours ago, signfan said:

The extended federal and provincial quasi-administrative regions of Northern Ontario have their own boundaries even further south in the transitional area that vary according to their respective government policies and requirements. Ontario government departments and agencies such as the Growth Plan for Northern Ontario and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation define Northern Ontario as all areas north of, and including, the districts of Parry Sound and Nipissing for political purposes,^[1][2] and the federal but not the provincial government also includes the district of Muskoka.

Use to be near North in-between.  

[Panther340]

6 hours ago, signfan said:

The extended federal and provincial quasi-administrative regions of Northern Ontario have their own boundaries even further south in the transitional area that vary according to their respective government policies and requirements. Ontario government departments and agencies such as the Growth Plan for Northern Ontario and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation define Northern Ontario as all areas north of, and including, the districts of Parry Sound and Nipissing for political purposes,^[1][2] and the federal but not the provincial government also includes the district of Muskoka.

For years it was French River, Parry Sound,  and east to Mattawa. ( I worked for Ontario Gov for 26 yrs) then the Muskoka cottage owners from Toronto saw grant and tax advantages , and convinced some Governments to change the line . A travesty considering how short changed the real Northern Ontario is.  So it seems what used to be " Central Ontario"  no longer exists  .....don't mind me just venting ! But Toronto's backyard should not be considered " Northern Ontario" ....no wonder many in North Western Ontario would gladly join Manitoba, to get better services and highways. 

[yamadan700]

On 9/8/2025 at 10:21 PM, zoso said:

How much money does the AGM cost? As well as all the other, fly in to the hotel, or get 50 cents per km to drive to it,  meetings? All of this money could be saved and all of it done remotely. Might want to start there.

OFSC signed a multiyear agreement and I believe there is one year left in the agreement. It would be cost prohibitive to cancel the contract. How much does it cost? Not sure, but I believe about $300k. Some funded by the OFSC, some funded by the districts/clubs. The "remote/virtual" was done during Covid and, from what I understand, it was a horrible experience. Having 200+ clubs online does not make a seamless/productive day(s).

As a volunteer and board member, I have no problem with the AGM. The face to face dialogue with others inside or outside your district is priceless. You can learn many cost saving actions, ideas, etc. from across the province. What works, what doesn't, who to talk to, etc.. The workshops we attend are also very valuable. It's not a vacation. It's 10-12 hour days. Many solutions are accomplished after hours.

Also, it's a good shot in the arm for all the hours and $$$ that we, as volunteers/board members, personally invest yearly to keep this snowmobile utopia alive, amid all of the negative comments and backlash that we have to constantly endure from our "fellow" snowmobilers. 

 

Just my $0.02.

[yamadan700]

Just FYI

 

Trail reduction is about 4500kms.

The OFSC will be going from 30000kms to 25500kms. So about 15%.

 

Note 1

However, if revenue is better than expected this year, the OFSC is not opposed to re-opening some of the newly closed trails.

It's a matter of outgo exceeding the income and being sustainable.

 

Note 2

The OFSC did recommend a 4%+ increase last year that was voted down by the membership(club presidents/chairs). The membership does control the price increases, not the OFSC.

[Strong Farmer]

4 minutes ago, yamadan700 said:

Just FYI

 

Trail reduction is about 4500kms.

The OFSC will be going from 30000kms to 25500kms. So about 15%.

 

Note 1

However, if revenue is better than expected this year, the OFSC is not opposed to re-opening some of the newly closed trails.

It's a matter of outgo exceeding the income and being sustainable.

 

Note 2

The OFSC did recommend a 4%+ increase last year that was voted down by the membership(club presidents/chairs). The membership does control the price increases, not the OFSC.

So what will increase be for this year, just 7 percent max or will membership approve a hike above  7 percent to try to make it more sustainable?  Thanks 

[signfan]

7% was approved.  $230 ish range I believe.  

[volunteer2]

11 hours ago, yamadan700 said:

 

Note 2

The OFSC did recommend a 4%+ increase last year that was voted down by the membership(club presidents/chairs). The membership does control the price increases, not the OFSC.

Our president voted for an increase    not sure how close it was though   

[stoney]

So, if I am following along, the OFSC put forward an increase last year and the majority of the clubs said no.

Then the OFSC puts forth communication to all clubs this year that we the clubs (OFSC) need to close xx% percentage of trails based on shortfalls, projections, etc....to keep things moving ahead.

 

No offense to anyone, but that sounds like consequences based on some poor decisions made.....option A was put forward as a recommendation, it was denied, so now option B is a requirement......and the 7% increase this year is now also approved....

 

I do not know who in their right mind based on the last few years would not approve an increase  

[Strong Farmer]

I seen a petition going around asking for signatures too and government to cover shortfall in funding.  Has anyone filled it out yet? 

[04nightfire]

13 hours ago, yamadan700 said:

OFSC signed a multiyear agreement and I believe there is one year left in the agreement. It would be cost prohibitive to cancel the contract. How much does it cost? Not sure, but I believe about $300k. Some funded by the OFSC, some funded by the districts/clubs. The "remote/virtual" was done during Covid and, from what I understand, it was a horrible experience. Having 200+ clubs online does not make a seamless/productive day(s).

As a volunteer and board member, I have no problem with the AGM. The face to face dialogue with others inside or outside your district is priceless. You can learn many cost saving actions, ideas, etc. from across the province. What works, what doesn't, who to talk to, etc.. The workshops we attend are also very valuable. It's not a vacation. It's 10-12 hour days. Many solutions are accomplished after hours.

Also, it's a good shot in the arm for all the hours and $$$ that we, as volunteers/board members, personally invest yearly to keep this snowmobile utopia alive, amid all of the negative comments and backlash that we have to constantly endure from our "fellow" snowmobilers. 

 

Just my $0.02.

Yes, I believe that is correct.  The OFSC and MTO agreement will come to an end for the 2027 sled season

[volunteer2]

57 minutes ago, 04nightfire said:

Yes, I believe that is correct.  The OFSC and MTO agreement will come to an end for the 2027 sled season

Just quick clarification please    the post from Yamadan700  were to do with AGM     Is there a long term agreement with OFSC and Deerhurst ?  have not heard of the MTO agreement coming to an end 

[04nightfire]

18 minutes ago, volunteer2 said:

Just quick clarification please    the post from Yamadan700  were to do with AGM     Is there a long term agreement with OFSC and Deerhurst ?  have not heard of the MTO agreement coming to an end 

My mistake.  I was thinking of the agreement between the OFSC and MTO on the price of the permit.

[yamadan700]

2 hours ago, stoney said:

So, if I am following along, the OFSC put forward an increase last year and the majority of the clubs said no.

Then the OFSC puts forth communication to all clubs this year that we the clubs (OFSC) need to close xx% percentage of trails based on shortfalls, projections, etc....to keep things moving ahead.

 

No offense to anyone, but that sounds like consequences based on some poor decisions made.....option A was put forward as a recommendation, it was denied, so now option B is a requirement......and the 7% increase this year is now also approved....

 

I do not know who in their right mind based on the last few years would not approve an increase  

I wasn't at the AGM last year so I don't know how many opposed the permit price increase. Obviously more than 50%.

 

I believe due to the horrible 23-24 season, the thinking was that permit buyers wouldn't accept the increase well(they never do), even though the OFSC very much needed the extra income.

FWIW, I know our trails were open for maybe a week that year.

[yamadan700]

1 hour ago, volunteer2 said:

Just quick clarification please    the post from Yamadan700  were to do with AGM     Is there a long term agreement with OFSC and Deerhurst ?  have not heard of the MTO agreement coming to an end 

The multi year agreement was for the AGM with Deerhurst which I believe has one year remaining.

 

The OFSC/MTO agreement is renegotiated/renewed every few years. I can't remember the expiry date but I think 04nightfire  is correct.

[stoney]

1 hour ago, yamadan700 said:

I wasn't at the AGM last year so I don't know how many opposed the permit price increase. Obviously more than 50%.

 

I believe due to the horrible 23-24 season, the thinking was that permit buyers wouldn't accept the increase well(they never do), even though the OFSC very much needed the extra income.

FWIW, I know our trails were open for maybe a week that year.

It has been said a few times here, but the mindset of people will not buy if there is an increase needs to stop - that card has been played for years in hopes to maintain ridership along with creative thoughts to entice people, but it does not seem to work....the weather and available trails do, along with people actually having the spare income to partake in this very expensive sport.

Perhaps a take away from this is the clubs that felt the increase was a bad idea have come to the realization that thought is no longer going to work, or you lose trails instead because something has got to give.

 

If I recall, even QC had a bad year in 23/24.....but they increased their permits I sure that next year.