Trans Canada Trail is calling on the federal government to renew its funding commitment to Canada’s cross-country trail network, pointing to new research that puts a dollar figure on both the return of sustained investment and the cost of letting it lapse.
A new study conducted by CPCS, “The Cost of Doing Nothing,” finds that without sustained financial support, nearly 11,000km of land-based trail — much of it running through the rural communities, small towns and wilderness regions that depend most on outside support — is projected to fall into disrepair by 2045.
Under that scenario, the study estimates Canada stands to lose: $2bn a year in tourism spending, roughly 1,000 jobs, concentrated in smaller and rural communities, $1.14bn in annual value delivered to the Canadians who use these trails for free, and seven to eight premature deaths and $72m in societal mortality costs each year.
The research quantifies the benefits of ongoing investment: every dollar spent on timely maintenance can save five dollars or more in future rehabilitation costs. Every dollar Trans Canada Trail puts into a project typically draws another three to five dollars in local matching investment.
“The trail stands as a reminder of what sustained, shared investment in this country can accomplish,” said Mathieu Roy, CEO of Trans Canada Trail.
“It’s safe, accessible infrastructure that Canadians quietly count on, and the data now shows what’s at stake if we let that go. The federal government is right to invest in major projects that build economic resilience — but a trail network that connects every province and territory is social infrastructure in its own right and deserves the same consideration.”
Across the country, local trail groups, volunteers, municipalities, Indigenous communities, conservation authorities, and charities help maintain the network that connects people to nature, each other and their communities. The trail supports wellbeing, environmental stewardship, active living, tourism and local economies.
The Trans Canada Trail is the longest multi-use trail system in the world. It reaches every province and territory and connects all three of Canada’s coastlines. Each section of the Trans Canada Trail is managed locally and supports different activities and community needs.
