Mount Carleton snowmobile plan a 'safety upgrade:' Bill Fraser

Tourism Minister Bill Fraseris defending a plan toexpandsnowmobile trails on Mount Carleton, saying itwill lead to a safer trail system that still protects the integrity of the provincial park.

The plan to double the widthof a utility road up the mountain to about 3.5 metres is drawing criticism from the public, includingmembers of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Societyand a former park manager.

Fraser saidsnowmobiles have been allowed on that section of the mountain for 20 years.

"Currently,we already have snowmobiling taking place on that utility road that's a road to be used for safety," Fraser said Wednesday on Information Morning Fredericton.

"So if there's an instance where you have to get emergency personnel to the mountain to rescue someone off the mountain, that's the road to do it. That's separate from the hiking trail people would be rightfully concerned about."

Information Morning - Fredericton15:59Snowmobiles on Mt. Carleton

Bill Fraser, Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, talks about the snowmobile plan for Mt. Carleton Provincial Park.

Fraser said,if anything, the changes will only improve oversight of the area.

Under the plan, additional staff will be hired to supervise snowmobile users so that they stay on the designated utility road.

"There's going to be people monitoring that, [there will be] security there 24 hours a day to monitor the trail and monitor the park," he said.

"We're going to make itsafer and more controlledand we're going to have security on site to make sure it's done in a respectful manner."

Jean-LouisDeveau, aformer manager of Mount Carleton, told CBC News this week he believed turning the provincial park into a hub for snowmobileswould have a harmful effect on the ecosystem.

Deveausaid hewants the park broken up into zonesto protect the most sensitive areas from development.

Fraser saidit's going to be a while before any provincial parks have management plans, but expanded snowmobile trails on the mountainwill be in an area already designated for recreation.

In addition, he saidpruning of the road will be done by hand.

The Department of Environment, Department of Natural Resources, the town of St. Quentin, and the Restigouche Regional Service Commission allreviewed the proposaland had no concerns, Fraser said.

The Department of Tourism estimates the snowmobiling industry brings in$25 million per year in revenue to the province.