Public Notice to Our Members and Community
Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club — December 18th, 2025
The Province of Ontario has launched a public consultation that could significantly affect the
future of the lands and trail systems our club depends on.
Under Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) Posting #025-1257, the government is
proposing to merge Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into larger regional entities. This
would include the amalgamation of the currently independent Sault Ste. Marie Region
Conservation Authority (SSMRCA), the authority that manages much of the land our ski trails
operate on, into a Northeastern Ontario Regional Conservation Authority extending east of
North Bay.
How You Can Help
- Please submit a comment now through this ERO Posting #025-1257 link
- Here is a sample letter you are welcome to use
- The commenting period is only open until December 22, 2025
- Share this notice with friends, family, and fellow trail users
- Stay informed about developments impacting local conservation and recreation
Why This Matters to Our Club
The Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club relies on strong local partnerships with the SSMRCA to maintain
our trails, protect the natural environment, and support safe winter recreation. The proposed
restructuring raises concerns about the loss of local decision-making, decreased
responsiveness, and impacts on trail stewardship.
The SSMRCA currently provides:
- Local oversight of conservation lands used for our ski trails
- Rapid and responsive permitting and land management
- Strong community partnerships built over decades
Under the proposed regional model, these responsibilities would be transferred to a much
larger authority spanning 19 municipalities, many hundreds of kilometres away. This will affect
trail maintenance, access, funding, and the close working relationships that help keep our trail
systems safe and accessible.
Have Your Say
The Province is seeking public input, and the commenting period is open until December 22,
2025.
We strongly encourage all members, trail users, and community partners to share their views.
Our Position
The Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club supports improvements to provincial coordination and
efficiency. However, these improvements should not come at the cost of:
- Local control
- Local expertise
- Local partnerships
- Local stewardship of lands the community relies on
Protecting our trails requires decisions informed by people who live and work here.
Thank you for supporting our trail systems and the natural lands that make skiing, fat biking,
and snowshoeing in the Sault so special.
For questions or more information, please contact:
SFNSC Secretary, Temeara Barrett
Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club
temearab@gmail.com [subject line: SSMRCA ERO inquiry]