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heard a rumor


Blackcat
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While there is no announcement on the site, it might be worth reading this and realize that, 50% of Quebec's trails are on private land and we as snowmobilers ride on those property's as a privilege not a assumed right. I can only assume that the fcmq is not sitting with it's head in the sand over this, but working behind the scenes in what capacity it can to minimize the impact should it occur and announcements on the fcmq at this point may be detrimental to their approach.

The landowners

Snowmobiling in Quebec distinguishes itself by its trail network which is the object of envy from snowmobilers everywhere. Totalling over 32,000 km of interconnected trails located in virtually every corner of the province, it stands as one of the most impressive recreational trail networks in the world. In fact, there are more kilometers of groomed trails in Quebec than there are of paved roads maintained by Quebec`s Ministry of Transport! While the latter are property of the state, the same cannot be said of snowmobile trails.

Tracks everywhere

The arrival of the snowmobile, and particularly the incredible popularity boom of the 1960s and early 1970s, changed Quebec`s rural landscape. In essence, it is not to overstate matters to proclaim that the snowmobile became, almost overnight, a “must have” for a significant number of Quebec families. The practically unbounded passion of the new enthusiasts resulted in the countryside becoming a huge playground, with snowmobile tracks appearing almost everywhere. While one could assume that farmers and landowners would have objected to this condition, the reality was that most got swept up in the fervour themselves, contributing to the situation.

The arrival of trails

At the beginning of the 1970s, some began working towards the establishment of a trail network that would link communities and permit travelling to take place in a safer and more consistent setting. The process of creating these trails started off slowly and rather informally, with (snowmobiling) landowners offering up access to their land for this fledgling network. Localized and formalized trail systems began developing in a simultaneous fashion across Quebec, and soon visionaries began contemplating and calling for the establishment of an interconnected, province-wide network.

Growing into a new reality

As the developing system grew over time, doing so at an ever-increasing pace, new concerns began to appear, namely getting land access from landowners who were not avid snowmobilers, as well as issues related to liability concerns. As is often the case, the solution to both issues laid in a single course of action, that is, the creation of proper land-use permission agreements. These simultaneously made it possible to establish precise terms and conditions for the use of land, while also creating a contractual basis for the issuance of critical liability insurance coverage for the landowners.

Land-use today

Land-use permission agreements continue to be the basis for the establishment of trails on private land (which account for 50% of the FCMQ`s 32,000 km of trails). Each fall, volunteers from each of the FCMQ`s 200 member clubs meet and negotiate tens of thousands of land-use agreements with landowners. These standardized agreements provide protection to landowners. It is important to note that landowners receive no payment or compensation for extending this privilege to the snowmobiling community. In the case of public lands, clubs must obtain permission from the land manager.

Loss of land use

Land use is a privilege, not a right. As such, the land-use agreement is an inherently fragile document that can be revoked at virtually any time by the landowner. As such, clubs often rely on signage or other means to raise awareness and ensure that snowmobilers respect the allocated corridors. Despite this, the issue remains contentious and snowmobilers are reminded that seemingly harmless off-trail excursions could potentially have a serious impact on the trail`s long-term sustainability.

FCMQ programs

The FCMQ, its clubs and volunteers are extremely grateful for the generosity of landowners, for without them, our trail system would cease to exist. 

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I got a email from a club president from western Quebec and he said the government representative agreed to start a conversation last night. He thought that was good news, 

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Made it easier for everyone...

The Quebec Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (FCMQ), following numerous articles published in the newspapers of the different regions of Quebec in view of the conflict between the Union des Producteurs Agricoles (UPA) and the Quebec government, wishes to express Its extreme discomfort with the two parties involved in this dispute, since both are prominent partners of vital importance. The FCMQ does not have the competence or the knowledge to take part in this conflict and in no case does not want to judge. The FCMQ is indebted to farmers for the integrity, interconnectivity and sustainability of its trail network and the Québec government for the financing of its operations and activities through royalties levied on the costs of Snowmobile registrations and redistributed in its programs to help Quebec's snowmobile federation and clubs.

The FCMQ recognizes the UPA's right to claim and defend the interests of its members and supports its request to postpone the implementation of the reform of agricultural property taxation without however being in agreement with the means of pressure used, The closing of snowmobile trails. Club voluntary administrators will respect the decision of agricultural producers to withdraw access to their land but at no time will the initiative be taken by snowmobile clubs. If the Federation of Quebec Snowmobile Clubs supports agricultural producers in order to reach a negotiated agreement to the satisfaction of the parties involved, the FCMQ does not sanction the closure of snowmobile trails since its primary mission and Is to offer snowmobilers, from here and elsewhere, access to the network of 33,000 kilometers of trails maintained to ensure their quality and safety through its 200 member snowmobile clubs, Non-profit managed by thousands of volunteers.

The closure of snowmobile trails on UPA members' lands would have a major negative impact on the economic impact of this important winter tourism activity, which maintains more than 14,000 jobs annually and generates several billion dollars for Quebec.

Farmers are important and essential partners who voluntarily and voluntarily allow snowmobile clubs to maintain snowmobile trails on their lands for snowmobiling. The FCMQ is very grateful to them because without their concern to ensure the economic development of their region, the existing network of trails interconnected and provincial could not exist.

If we all want to take advantage of the benefits that this winter activity brings to Quebec, the collaboration of all the various players in this file is required in order to maintain this precious jewel that is the network of snowmobile trails in Quebec. It is midnight one and we are asking the Government of Quebec to sit down with the UPA representatives to agree on a negotiated agreement to the satisfaction of the parties involved.

Thank you to all of you, volunteers, landowners and all the various organizations and departments in Quebec who have contributed and participated for over forty-two years in this wonderful adventure.

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1 hour ago, Catmandoo said:

If an agreement does not happen immediately will the trails close on the 1st or the 6th? I've seen different reports.

I have seen more reports suggesting the 6th than the 1st, however a local paper gave the 1st as the date. I guess this reply is about as clear as mud, 😐 

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52 minutes ago, mrgrumpers said:

Unless Im reading this wrong it says, "Access to farmlands NOW prohibited". Sounds like the fields are shut down starting today Feb 1st........

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This morning Feb 1 from Diable et Rouge club Tremblant.

Basically it says,closure of the trails by the UPA as of Feb 1st the club has no information from the local section of the UPA and so the club considers the trails are still open. They are following the situation closely and if the UPA decides to close the trails the club will conform to the decision.

they hope in their heart that the differences between the farmers, the club and the government will be resolved to the satisfaction of all. 

FERMETURE DES SENTIERS PAR L'UPA ....
EN DATE DU 1 FEVRIER N AYANT AUCUNE INFORMATIONS DE LA SECTION LOCALE DE L'UPA LE CLUB CONSIDERE QUE LES SENTIERS SONT TOUJOURS OUVERTS .....

NOUS SUIVONS LA SITUATION DE TRES PRES ... SI L UPA DECIDE DE FERMER LES SENTIERS LE CLUB SE CONFORMERAS A LEURS DÉCISIONS ....

Souhaitant de tout cœur que le diffèrent entre nos cultivateurs partenaires du club et le gvt se règle a la satisfaction de tous !!!!

 

 

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axation: an imminent agreement

03 February 2017

According to Minister Lessard, the conflict between the government and farmers over the Farm Property Tax Credit Program is about to be resolved.

The new Minister of Agriculture said this morning, on Radio-Beauce, that an agreement could be reached as early as this afternoon. If Mr. Lessard's forecasts prove, Quebec snowmobilers will freely circulate on the trails. "There will be snowmobiles to be done this weekend," he added.

For its part, the Director General of the UPA, Charles-Félix Ross, confirmed to the   Earth   That there was really little left yesterday to conclude the agreement.

More details to come.

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