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Manitoba Government Funds Coast-to-coast Trail That Unites all Canadians

Outdoor enthusiasts from around the world will now be able to enjoy even more of Manitoba’s beautiful wilderness thanks to an $800,000 commitment from the province that will help complete the remaining section of the Trans Canada Trail through Manitoba, Premier Selinger announced today.

“The Trans Canada Trail unifies all Canadians while at the same time making Manitoba’s parks, lakes and wildlife more accessible to tourists from around the world,” said Premier Selinger.  “Whether it’s in our rural or urban communities, the completion of this trail will preserve green space and promote conservation, create jobs by stimulating tourism, and inspire healthy and active living.”

The Trans Canada Trail (TCT) was initiated in 1992 as a project to celebrate Canada’s 125th year, and when completed, will be the world’s longest network of multi-use recreational trails.  Once fully connected, it will stretch nearly 24,000 kilometres, pass through every province and territory, and connect Canada’s three coasts.

As of October 2015, the TCT is 80 per cent complete.  Manitoba’s portion of the TCT is 1,400 km long and is about 92 per cent complete, the premier said.

“We are grateful for this generous investment from the Government of Manitoba and for the corresponding matching funds from the Government of Canada,” said Hartley Richardson, co-chair, Trans Canada Trail Foundation.  “This contribution will have a tremendous impact on the development of the Trail in Manitoba and will help the TCT, with our partner Trails Manitoba, to take an important step forward in reaching our bold goal of full connection by Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.”

Since 2000, the province has provided more than $5.75 million to Trails Manitoba for Trans Canada Trail development in Manitoba.  In 2014-15, the province increased funding to the operational budget of Trails Manitoba to $88,000 from $25,000, to be provided equally by Manitoba Healthy Living and Seniors, Manitoba Municipal Government, and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development ($29,600 from each department).

“Trails Manitoba has appreciated the support from the Province of Manitoba since we started building the Trans Canada Trail in our province,” said Ian Hughes, president, board of directors, Trails Manitoba. “This grant will allow us to connect the last pieces of a trail that connects communities and parklands from the Ontario border to Saskatchewan."

The Trans Canada Trail is a community-based project.  Trail sections are owned, operated and maintained by local organizations, provincial authorities, national agencies and municipalities across Canada.  The trail, including Manitoba’s portion, is expected to be complete by 2017, the 25th anniversary of the TCT and Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation.

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED

The Province of Manitoba is distributing this release on behalf of the government of Manitoba, Trails Manitoba and the Trans Canada Trail Foundation.