Council of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) clarified this morning that it is prepared to accept the current agreement with the Eastern Ontario Snowmobile Club (EOSC), provided that the UCPR receives the indemnification that is required to protect taxpayers in Prescott and Russell.
The new agreement and insurance policy being proposed this year by the EOSC exclude any coverage for the “willful misconduct and/or negligence on the part of the landowner.” In this case, the UCPR is the landowner of the Larose Forest and the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail.
“We realize that insurance companies are more restrictive today, in terms of what they are prepared to cover, however the UCPR has received legal advice that it is in the best interests of its ratepayers that we maintain the same insurance requirements from previous agreements, as was the case for many years,” explained Stéphane P. Parisien, Chief Administrative Officer of the UCPR.
“To be clear, the UCPR is prepared to continue its relationship with the EOSC as per the terms of the previous agreement. Council understands the importance of the snowmobile trails for our economy, and the mayors share the same concerns as the trail users - but ultimately, we have the responsibility to protect our taxpayers from unnecessary and considerable financial risks, which are being imposed by third-party insurance companies,” concluded Pierre Leroux, Warden of the UCPR Council.