BC Powersports Organizations Call for Increased MotorizedRecreation Infrastructure Funding in Provincial Budget

The BC Snowmobile Federation (BCSF), the Quad Riders ATV Association of British Columbia (ATVBC), and the BC Off-Road Motorcycle Association (BCORMA), working collaboratively through the BC Powersports Coalition, are drawing attention to the findings of the Province’s Budget 2026 Consultation Report — findings that reinforce the urgent need for stable, long-term investment in motorized recreation infrastructure across British Columbia.

Representing tens of thousands of riders, volunteers, and rural families, the three organizations welcomed the report’s recognition that volunteer-led recreation groups are facing growing financial and administrative pressures, and that backcountry access routes — particularly Forest Service Roads (FSRs) — are deteriorating at an unsustainable rate.

What the provincial report said about powersports organizations

BC Snowmobile Federation (BCSF)

The Select Standing Committee on Finance highlighted BCSF’s submission noting that motorized recreation in BC “relies on volunteer-run, non-profit organizations,” yet these organizations “face increasing financial and administrative pressure due to insufficient funding.” The Committee also cited BCSF’s call for dedicated funding to maintain key Forest Service Roads (FSRs) and other access routes essential for motorized public recreation.

Quad Riders ATV Association of BC (ATVBC)

ATVBC echoed these concerns, recommending immediate investment to maintain and restore FSRs that serve as primary access points for motorized recreation. The report noted that deteriorating roads create barriers to safe and equitable motorized access, underscoring the need for stable, long-term infrastructure funding.

BC Off-Road Motorcycle Association (BCORMA)

While BCORMA is not listed individually in the report, the challenges central to BCORMA’s mandate — access infrastructure, volunteer capacity, and trail system sustainability — were echoed throughout other submissions. These findings validate the long-standing concerns raised by BCORMA and its partners within the BC Powersports Coalition.

Economic Contribution of Motorized Recreation

Motorized recreation attracts a demographic that has traditionally higher- than-average household incomes and strong discretionary spending power, particularly in rural regions. Unlike other tourism subsectors, powersports clubs are non-profit organizations with no revenue-generating assets, meaning that every dollar spent by riders flows directly into the small businesses and services that support them — fuel stations, motels, restaurants, repair shops, guides, outfitters, and local retail. This creates a uniquely decentralized economic engine where the benefits are distributed across dozens of rural communities rather than concentrated in urban centres. As part of BC’s largest industry sector — tourism — which contributes more to GDP than mining, forestry, or agriculture, the motorized recreation sector plays a substantial role in sustaining winter economies, stabilizing seasonal employment, and driving year-round rural economic resilience.

A unified message: Motorized recreation needs stable investment

Together, ATVBC, BCSF, and BCORMA emphasize that:

● BC’s motorized recreation system relies heavily on volunteers, more than in any other province.

● Forest Service Roads are rapidly degrading, threatening public access, rider safety, and rural economic activity.

● This deterioration undermines volunteer capacity and investment — the foundation that supports a significant portion of British Columbia’s $4.8-billion outdoor recreation economy, within which motorized recreation is a major contributor.

● Existing grant programs, including the ORV Trail Fund, are consistently oversubscribed, and volunteer-run motorized organizations cannot meet growing demand without sustained, predictable operational funding.

● Demand for motorized recreation continues to rise, yet infrastructure investment has not kept pace with user needs.

Coalition calls for action in Budget 2026

The BC Powersports Coalition is urging the Province to:

1. Invest in the maintenance and rehabilitation of Forest Service Roads that provide essential access to motorized recreation areas.

2. Provide sustained funding to volunteer organizations to meet administrative, operational, and stewardship demands.

3. Include motorized recreation groups as equal partners in provincial recreation planning and funding models.

About the BC Powersports Coalition

The BC Powersports Coalition is a collaboration of provincial motorized recreation organizations — BCSF, ATVBC, and BCORMA — representing riders, volunteers, and rural communities across British Columbia. The Coalition advocates for safe, sustainable, and accessible motorized recreation opportunities on public land.