Closure of Curley Lake Road to snowmobilers will have deep economic impact on the Pontiac says former president of the Pontiac Snowmobile Drivers Association

Jorge Maria

Pontiac July 21, 2021

Former Pontiac Snowmobile Driver’s Association (PSDA) president Alain Goulet was disappointed when he heard about a final agreement between the NCC and the Municipality of Pontiac, which settles administrative control of the former snowmobile trail on Curley Lake Road. 

The road, which has been strictly used as a snowmobile trail for more than a decade, was the last trail heading towards Quebec’s north eastern trails, though it did not completely connect to them.

On a snowmobile map centred around Algonquin Park, which is administered by the NCC, several trails lead to dead ends, some of which use to connect people from Eastern Ontario to the Quebec trails to the north, Goulet contends. “The whole Outaouais region is completely destroyed, snowmobile-wise, because of the NCC,” he said.

Without access to trails to the north, Ontario snowmobilers which often cross the Ottawa river to travel Quebec’s trails will stop coming, according to Goulet.

According to the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Associations (CCSA), snowmobiling generates over $8 billion in economic activity across Canada. Tourism is particularly important to rural communities which often serve as connection points along remote trails.

According to Goulet, a large chunk of that money benefits Quebec. He feels Curley Lake’s closure will deprive communities of badly-needed tourism revenue.

Sheila McCrindle, who works with the Pontiac Equestrian Association, agrees with Goulet’s assessment. “Snowmobilers are very important to local economies. They spend a lot of money and people come from Ontario and they do big loops [visiting communities],” she said.

“If the Municipality of Pontiac becomes a dead end, nobody is going to come here and they won’t buy gas or stop at restaurants.”

About 10 years ago, according to McCrindle, the snowmobile trail ran along the equestrian trail. The NCC closed the trail to snowmobilers and within three months a restaurant next to a gas station near the trail closed down. “It just couldn’t make a go of it without the snowmobile traffic,” she said.

The NCC has always tried to maintain a good relationship with the PSDA, according to Christie Spence, Director, Quebec Urban Lands and Gatineau Park. “Up until this past year, the club has always come to us and asked for a permit or failing that the municipality has requested a permit for that use,” Spence said.

The NCC master plan going back to 2005 called for the creation of a conservation zone. In that original plan, the last season of snowmobiling was meant to be 2010. This led to the PSDA and (Municipality of Pontiac) MoP contesting the plan and so an agreement was reached that until an alternate route was found; the PSDA would be granted a permit on a year by year basis, Spence noted.

After seeking legal advice, the PSDA decided not to request a permit this year, Goulet said.

The alternate trail

Over the years, the NCC, the Municipality of Pontiac and the PSDA worked to find an alternate route. The main contender of the three options was a trail along chemin Eardley-Masham.

Goulet worked with the NCC and the MoP to map out possibilities. A Facebook post from Goulet dating back to July 13, 2018 seems optimistic about the future route. It includes photos of a trek along the possible trail. A comment from Goulet reads: “Long hike scouting the new snowmobile trail along Eardley Masham road with the NCC staff.”

Sometime after that negotiations stalled. Spence said no more meetings were held after September 27, 2020. Further discussions were encouraged but no meeting was held.

With the MoP and the NCC coming to an agreement on the trail, “Snowmobilers feel that now they won’t get a trail at all,” McCrindle said.

Spence and MoP mayor Joanne Labadie both said they would be happy to work on an alternate route if the PSDA is interested. “We want to build a multifunctional trail that is used year round, whether the snowmobile club is interested or not,” Labadie said. 

The PSDA could not be reached for comment prior to publication.