Investment in snowmobile trails to boost safety and support local economy

Tashi Farmilo

The Quebec government is awarding nearly $266,000 to snowmobile clubs in Outaouais as part of a broader $8.2 million initiative aimed at maintaining trails, improving safety, and supporting winter tourism for the 2025–26 season.

The funding, announced on February 10, is being delivered through the province’s snowmobile support program, known as the Programme d’aide financière aux clubs de motoneigistes du Québec (PACM). Seven local clubs will share $265,966 to maintain trails across more than 2,200 kilometres of groomed routes. An additional $2.6 million is being provided to the Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec (FCMQ) to coordinate provincewide safety measures, including training for volunteers, improved signage, and patrol operations.

The program is intended to sustain a snowmobile network that plays a central role in Quebec’s winter economy. Snowmobiling generates over $2 billion in annual economic benefits for the province, with much of that activity concentrated in small towns and rural communities where trails connect directly to restaurants, gas stations, and lodging.

Government officials emphasized that the initiative is as much about safety as it is about tourism. By supporting grooming, signage, and training, the program aims to reduce accidents on a network that sees thousands of riders each winter.

“The safety of snowmobilers is paramount, and I am proud of our government’s support for these indispensable volunteers,” said Jonatan Julien, Quebec’s minister of transport and sustainable mobility. He added that the funding would help ensure that riders can enjoy the trails under better and safer conditions.

The PACM is divided into two streams: one supporting direct trail maintenance and the other funding province-level safety and coordination. The current program remains in effect through March 2027, ensuring support over multiple seasons.

Mathieu Lacombe, the minister responsible for Outaouais, called the investment essential to the area’s winter vitality. “Our winter is more dynamic because of these clubs, which are an important draw for local riders and tourists alike,” he said. “By ensuring they can keep operating, we are strengthening the regional economy.”