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My Take on Snow Lake – May 3, 2019

Snowmobile club asks Snow Lake council to support proposal to incorporate Snopass with MPI registration
One of the SnoDrifters’ warmup shelters on a trail near Herblet Lake.
One of the SnoDrifters’ warmup shelters on a trail near Herblet Lake.

Snow Lake’s status as a destination for fishers, hunters and those in search of natural beauty has long been a fact beyond dispute. As for being known as a haven in the winter months … well, that has taken a bit more work. Even so, there is a group of weather hardened snowmobile enthusiasts who are only too eager to advise that if you want to ride a sled over trails, Snow Lake has to be at the top of your list.

The Snow Lake SnoDrifters is a local group who work exceedingly hard at making area trails smoother than, for example … area highways. In addition to maintaining their local trail system, they provide mapping of trails, warmup shelters, and markings for these trails. The group is helped in that effort through the contributions of people who buy an annual Snoman Snopass.

Earlier in the year, they looked to get some backing from Snow Lake’s town council in respect to the incorporation of the Snopass with each insurer’s MPI registration of a snowmobile. The Snopass fee helps to enhance recreational snowmobiling across the province by supporting local Snoman member clubs who groom and maintain more than 12,000 kilometres of designated trails across Manitoba. Currently, if you wish to travel on designated Snoman trails in Manitoba, you are required by law to have a valid orange Snopass plate affixed to your snowmobile. What Snoman is attempting to do is make the purchase of a Snopass part of the process of registering a sled.

They put that proposal forward to Snow Lake’s council at the latter’s April 2 regular meeting, asking for a resolution of support. Without someone from the club on hand to overview the concept and answer questions, the resolution was defeated.

Undiscouraged, a delegation from the SnoDrifters and the Snow Lake Chamber of Commerce attended the follow-up meeting April 23. Tyler Samborski spoke on behalf of the SnoDrifters and Gerard Lamontagne for the chamber. Samborski, who is the alternate for Snoman’s northern director, advised that the delegates were appearing in order to have the council reconsider the defeat of their resolution of support. He stated that having the Snopass included with sled registration has been a 10-year battle for Snoman. The group has seen revenues decrease over that period, due mainly to a lack of enforcement that has allowed many who don’t possess a Snopass use and benefit from a provincial trail system that was built and is maintained for the benefit of pass holders.

Samborski also noted that the local club would like to expand local trails, but without revenue generated by Snoman’s Snopass, they just can’t afford it. Lamontagne added that the chamber would like to see Snow Lake become a snowmobilers’ destination and that they are in favour of fishers, farmers and trappers getting some sort of exemption on the registration. “It is important that the town stand behind this,” he said.

Council had numerous questions for the delegates, most based on the fairness of blanket registration in respect to the number of sleds that farmers, fishers and trappers could exempt (only one), as well as the affordability for multiple sled families, and for those who do not use their sleds on Snopass trails. As well, the council wondered if a more focused enforcement of current rules would boost compliance. After 20 minutes of discussion council moved to rescind their previous resolution and put a new one on the floor. After it was moved and seconded, it passed, and with it, council gave their support to Snoman’s efforts to have the government of Manitoba implement the incorporation of the Snopass  with the registration of snowmobiles, in a timely manner, for the sustainability of the snowmobile trail system and snowmobile clubs.

It was also noted that council was in favour of contacting local law enforcement agencies in respect to enforcement of the current law where any snowmobiler found to be on a designated trail without a valid Snopass is fined approximately $480.

In other news, USW Local 7106 and the Town of Snow Lake held their annual National Day of Mourning ceremony at the Miners’ Memorial at the corner of Memorial Drive and Balsam Street. The ceremony was attended by approximately 20 people and saw wreaths laid on behalf unions, the MLA, the town, the Legion, the hospital auxiliary, and several individuals. USW Local 7106 vice-president Terry Hornyak gave the address and, following the service, attendees retired to the local Senior Centre for refreshments and fellowship.

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