Harper receives snowmobile award during Summerside visit
Last Updated: Friday, June 12, 2009 | 2:04 PM AT
CBC News
A national snowmobile organization gave Prime Minister Stephen Harper its highest award Friday for funding an expansion of the national trail network.
Harper spoke at the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations awards ceremony in Summerside, P.E.I.
The prime minister, who attended the ceremony with Fisheries Minister and Island MP Gail Shea, said he was honoured to receive the award because of the group's commitment to preserving the country's heritage.
"Investing in Canada's national trails helps create jobs today. It also opens up new opportunities for tourism businesses and allows more Canadians to enjoy the Canadian countryside in a safe and responsible manner," he said.
CCSO president Kevin Sweetland praised Harper's "exceptional leadership" for giving the National Trails Coalition $25 million in the Jan. 27 budget to build and improve snowmobile trails across the country.
The awards ceremony was part of a meeting of the International Snowmobile Congress on the Island. The event brings together 500 delegates that represent major snowmobiling areas around the world.
Summerside Mayor Basil Stewart, who was elected president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities on June 7, welcomed Harper at the airport.
The visit comes a day after the federal Conservatives unveiled their second quarterly economic progress report.
The report outlined the federal government's progress on infrastructure projects across the country, including investments in Summerside's wind farm and its sewer system, as well as the restoration of Queen Street in Charlottetown.
Share Tools
Latest Prince Edward Island News Headlines
- Liquor store discussion heats up legislature
- The Opposition raised questions in the provincial legislature Friday over the decision to close the Wood Islands liquor store. more »
- EI rules will hurt primary trades, says P.E.I. premier
- While reaction continues to brew over Thursday's announcement about changes to the Employment Insurance program, P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz says provincial officials will be meeting with the federal government to discuss how the new rules will affect Islanders. more »
- HST to hit low-income earners hardest
- Although the proposed harmonized sales tax is good for business, it will hit low-income Islanders the hardest when it's rung in next April, said economists. more »
- Charlottetown businessman named to Order of Canada
- Charlottetown's Fred Hyndman was inducted as a member of the Order of Canada Friday. more »
Top News Headlines
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- The husband of a Toronto woman who died trying to climb Mt. Everest on Saturday says his family is not seeking government help to cover the cost of bringing his wife's body home. more »
- Henrique's OT goal sends Devils into Stanley Cup final
- The New Jersey Devils will vie for a potential fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history after completing a six-game series win Friday night over the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference final, courtesy of rookie Adam Henrique's goal early in overtime. more »
- Employment Insurance review boards to be scrapped
- The federal government is scrapping two review boards used by people appealing decisions made about their employment insurance. more »
- Teens share bullying tales in confession booth
- Raw stories about bullying emerged when a video booth was set up inside a Quebec high school. more »
- EI rules will hurt primary trades, says P.E.I. premier
- P.E.I. quality of life second-worst, says study
- HST to hit low-income earners hardest
- 902 numbers running out in N.S., P.E.I.
- Islanders worried over EI changes
- Charlottetown businessman named to Order of Canada
- Atlantic Lottery replacing old VLTs
- Tourism P.E.I. handed out $60,000 in free golf passes
- Red Shores Raceway's fastest horse put down
