awied
Member
The January 16 Macleans lists snowmobiling under one of the 99 stupid things the government spends money on. This is the letter I sent to the editor.
Dear Editor,
Re: 99 REALLY STUPID THINGS THE GOVERNMENT DOES WITH YOUR MONEY in January 16,2012 issue of Macleans
Some government expenditures may be stupid. Our governments giving back a miniscule portion of what they get from snowmobilers to support snowmobiling is not stupid. Snowmobiling is a major generator of revenue for communities across Canada. Quebec and Ontario have the finest snowmobile trail systems in the world. Communities in every Province and Territory depend on snowmobiling to bolster their economy in the winter and to provide healthy recreation opportunities for young and old. In our small isolated community of 1000 in eastern BC, we welcome 12 to 15 thousand snowmobilers each winter who come from across Canada to ride in the developed riding areas in our surrounding mountains. Our snowmobile areas were not developed with government money but through the support of our community and businesses and with many thousands of volunteer hours donated by snowmobilers over the past 50 years. Our visiting snowmobilers pay for accommodations, pay a trail fee to ride our groomed trails, support our businesses and leave over $1.5 million each year to bolster our local economy. Nationally, snowmobilers spend $6 billion annually in Canada. Our snowmobile area is not unique. Many hundreds of snowmobile clubs and their members have built Canada’s huge snowmobile infrastructure with very, very little financial help from their Governments over the years.
The first snowmobiles were built in Canada and recreational snowmobiling is now enjoyed in the USA, Sweden and Russia. Surely with all the writers who are taking credit for writing the “STUPID” article, one of them could take a serious look at one of Canada’s unique winter recreation activities and its huge economic and health benefits instead of positioning snowmobile support by our governments as a waste of money. They might start by looking at “The Facts and Statistics About Snowmobiling” on the CCSO web site and research and write a positive article about snowmobiling and its benefits to our country.
Arnold Wied
Valemount
PS Global and CBC have since quoted the STUPID grants to snowmobiling on TV.
Dear Editor,
Re: 99 REALLY STUPID THINGS THE GOVERNMENT DOES WITH YOUR MONEY in January 16,2012 issue of Macleans
Some government expenditures may be stupid. Our governments giving back a miniscule portion of what they get from snowmobilers to support snowmobiling is not stupid. Snowmobiling is a major generator of revenue for communities across Canada. Quebec and Ontario have the finest snowmobile trail systems in the world. Communities in every Province and Territory depend on snowmobiling to bolster their economy in the winter and to provide healthy recreation opportunities for young and old. In our small isolated community of 1000 in eastern BC, we welcome 12 to 15 thousand snowmobilers each winter who come from across Canada to ride in the developed riding areas in our surrounding mountains. Our snowmobile areas were not developed with government money but through the support of our community and businesses and with many thousands of volunteer hours donated by snowmobilers over the past 50 years. Our visiting snowmobilers pay for accommodations, pay a trail fee to ride our groomed trails, support our businesses and leave over $1.5 million each year to bolster our local economy. Nationally, snowmobilers spend $6 billion annually in Canada. Our snowmobile area is not unique. Many hundreds of snowmobile clubs and their members have built Canada’s huge snowmobile infrastructure with very, very little financial help from their Governments over the years.
The first snowmobiles were built in Canada and recreational snowmobiling is now enjoyed in the USA, Sweden and Russia. Surely with all the writers who are taking credit for writing the “STUPID” article, one of them could take a serious look at one of Canada’s unique winter recreation activities and its huge economic and health benefits instead of positioning snowmobile support by our governments as a waste of money. They might start by looking at “The Facts and Statistics About Snowmobiling” on the CCSO web site and research and write a positive article about snowmobiling and its benefits to our country.
Arnold Wied
Valemount
PS Global and CBC have since quoted the STUPID grants to snowmobiling on TV.
