Charles Hubbard, Member of Parliament for Miramichi, on behalf of the Honourable Andy Mitchell, Secretary of State (Parks) and of the Honourable Fred J. Mifflin, Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Minister of Veterans Affairs, and and the Honourable Doug Tyler, New Brunswick's Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, today announced that over the next four years, the multi-use trail system in the Kouchibouguac National Park will be significantly expanded and fully integrated into the New Brunswick Trail System now being developed. The $2.23 million project is a joint initiative between Parks Canada, ACOA, and Sentier NB Trail.

The expansion will extend the trail in Kouchibouguac National Park from 24 km to 65 km, connecting the Park to neighbouring communities to the north and south. Extending the trail provides a vital link in the Sentier NB Trail initiative, a New Brunswick network of community-based trails tied together through provincial and regional coordination. The goal is to have approximately 2000 km of trail in New Brunswick when the project is completed.

"This expanded trail in Kouchibouguac National Park will better satisfy the needs of local users and tourists for safe, high-quality recreational services," explained Mr. Hubbard. "The trail will also extend the traditional summer season and enhance the economic impact associated with the Park."

"The Province is extremely pleased to participate in this important project," said the Honourable Doug Tyler. "This effort, as part of the Sentier NB Trail initiative, will help meet the growing public demand for recreational trail development and provide access to the province's special heritage places. When completed, the trail will link into the Trans-Canada Trail and the International Appalachian Trail."

The trail expansion in Kouchibouguac National Park will begin right away, providing employment for 20 people per year during the construction phase and jobs for several more people upon completion. Sections of the trail will be opened as finished, with a final completion date of 2001 anticipated.

Kouchibouguac National Park is one of the most popular attractions in the province and a popular destination for campers, walkers, cyclists and beach lovers. It is part of a national system of parks, historic sites, and related protected areas designed to preserve, protect and present Canada's rich cultural and natural heritage.

This project is partly funded under the Canada/New Brunswick Regional Economic Development Agreement (REDA), which is administered federally by ACOA and provincially by the Regional Development Corporation (RDC). Federal funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 1998 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

For more information, please contact:

Margot Doey-Vick 		   Cecil Freeman
Communications Advisor 		   Sentier NB Trail
Secretary of State (Parks) 	   (506) 452-6950
(819) 953-1686

Gilles Babin 			   Liette Lavallée
Kouchibouguac National Park 	   ACOA
(506) 876-2443 			   (506) 452-3686

Backgrounder Multi-Use Trail System in Kouchibouguac National Park

Kouchibouguac National Park, in conjunction with the Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Sentier NB Trail, is expanding the Kouchibouguac National Park Multi-Use Trail System so that it will be fully integrated into the New Brunswick trail system now being developed. This project will extend the trail in the Park from 24 kilometres to 65 kilometres and will connect the Sentier NB Trail initiative currently under construction.

The expansion is a cooperative initiative between Parks Canada, ACOA, and Sentier NB Trail. Over the next four years, $2.23 million dollars is being invested in this project, which is partly funded under the Canada/ New Brunswick Regional Economic Development Agreement (REDA), administered federally by ACOA and provincially by the Regional Development Corporation (RDC).

The Sentier NB Trail project, implemented by the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Energy, is a New Brunswick network of community-based trails tied together in partnership with the New Brunswick Trails Council Inc. and local trail sponsors. When the system is completed, walkers, hikers, joggers, cyclists and cross-country skiiers will be able to experience New Brunswick's natural beauty and wilderness. In some instances, the trails will accommodate equestrians, dogsledders and cross-country skiers. The trails will join the province's towns and communities and eventually link into the Trans-Canada Trail and the International Appalachian Trail. To date, approximately 500 km of trails have been completed around the province and 500 more are partially completed.

The expanded trail in Kouchibouguac will permit visitors to explore the Park's main habitats by foot or on bicycle in the spring, summer and fall and, in the winter, on cross-country skis, snowshoes or by foot. When finished, the trail in Kouchibouguac will connect with the City of Moncton to the south via the villages of Bouctouche, Rexton, Richibucto and Saint-Louis-de-Kent and with the City of Miramichi to the north through the villages of Kouchibouguac, Pointe-Sapin and Loggieville.

With an aging population, there has been a growing public demand for recreational trails. Both local users and tourists are increasingly interested in the ecotourism opportunities this unique trail system offers. A large majority of the Park's 230,000 annual visitors uses the existing 24-km trail, particularly for cycling and cross-country skiing, as the Park's flat landscape is accessible to all age groups. It will now be easier than ever to meet the year-round needs of visitors, while, at the same time, ensuring stewardship of the Park's natural resources.

The well-used bikeway system in Kouchibouguac corresponds with national trends, which indicate that 40% of adult Canadians now describe themselves as cyclists. This fact, coupled with the current focus on healthy living and the aging population who enjoys walking as an exercise, will ensure that both current and anticipated needs are met.

Kouchibouguac National Park, a world-class heritage site, is one of the most-visited attractions in New Brunswick and is heavily promoted by the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture as having the warmest salt water north of Virginia. It is part of a national system of parks, historic sites, and related protected areas which preserves, protects and presents Canada's rich cultural and natural heritage. Kouchibouguac's spectacular natural beaches, high-quality cross-country ski trails, excellent campsites, interpretation programs, and year-round facilities and services make it a cornerstone of the area's economy.