Opinion: Decision to close snowmobile trails is hasty and unbending, based on unsubstantiated complaints

Good day.

I have been following the stories and comments regarding the recent snowmobile trail closure and I find myself troubled by some of the things I have read. I hope that more information will come to light so that I can better understand that there was no other decision to make than to close the trails in this district.

From what I have read so far it could be interpreted that a hasty and unbending decision has been made to close the trails that was only based on unsubstantiated complaints from the public. I would hope this is not the case.

I have not read any information on anyone such as the police investigating and verifying the validity of these complaints. It would seem appropriate to have a third party such as the police investigate any complaints as investigations are what they do and they are well experienced in sorting facts from fiction. The police are also the ones enforcing the restrictions and handing out fines for non-compliance. I find it noteworthy to read in another article that the OPP found that people in general were complying with the Covid restrictions.

I have also not read in any of the articles any mention of discussions with stakeholders such as the police or OFSC as to other possible options or solutions to the complaints.

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams has allowed for snowmobiling as an acceptable activity during the stay at home order. So far every other health unit in the province with snowmobile trails has continued to allow snowmobiling in their districts including those with much higher rates of Covid infection.

It was interesting to read Dr. Charles Gardner the medical director for Simcoe-Muskoka say that he is not considering closing the trails there and he would have to see evidence that it is both helpful and necessary to make that kind of restriction.

Medicine and medical decisions are supposed to be evidence and fact-based. The comments from Dr. Gardner would suggest there are no facts or evidence that there is any benefit to closing the trails. The fact that no other health unit has closed their trails would seem to suggest that the other health unit directors are thinking in a similar way to Dr. Gardner, otherwise we would likely see many if not all of the snowmobile trails in Ontario being closed.

Surely there must be some alternative solutions worth considering that could be effective in controlling the flow of people who are travelling into the area, if this is the real reason for closing the trails. Actions such as putting restrictions on who is able to use the local accommodations in this district could have a substantial impact on anyone who is wanting to travel here from another area and not just the people who have snowmobiles. Increased police patrols in any problem areas along with the issuance of substantial fines could also be effective in changing inappropriate behaviours.

I hope the local trail closure was not just based on complaints from individuals, some of whom may have some bias against local snowmobilers, or for other reasons that are not fact or evidence-based. It would be beneficial to read more information that would help to make more sense of this current situation and that there could be some flexibility for further discussion of other options to the trail closure.

Sincerely

Dale Vining
Callander