Minister visualizes eventual ATV legislation
The Trails Only Yukon Association (TOYA) has a message for MLAs on both sides of the legislature: “Keep your promise.”
Photo by Max Leighton
IT’S TIME FOR ACTION – Vern Peters (left) and Ken Taylor of the Trails Only Yukon Association discuss their concerns with members of the media this morning.
The Trails Only Yukon Association (TOYA) has a message for MLAs on both sides of the legislature: “Keep your promise.”
The group polled all candidates in last October’s territorial election and said each had indicated they would pursue some form of ATV legislation, should they be elected.
“As Robert Service said, ‘A promise made is a debt unpaid,’” Vern Peters, a TOYA steering committee member, told members of the media this morning at his Porter Creek C home.
The Yukon is one of the least regulated regions in Canada, noted Peters.
“This is a lawless land,” he said. “In the Yukon, you can do whatever you want as long as it is not on a public highway.”
The group commissioned a DataPath Systems study, which found that 90 per cent of Yukoners want some form of legislation and they wonder why the government has been dragging its feet on creating it.
“Everyone we’ve spoken with has indicated that this is not as difficult a file, as it is being made out to be. In fact, it is very doable,” said Ken Taylor, another steering committee member.
“I’ve watched the political scene in the Yukon for years and I have not seen an issue with so much popular support. Ninety per cent of Yukoners say that they want it and all 19 MLAs say they will go for it. This isn’t a big debate.”
The group met with Environment Minister Currie Dixon, as well as Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Brad Cathers in December 2011 to provide information on what such legislation may look like.
Their presentation to the ministers recommended: a moratorium on the creation of new ATV trails; limiting the use of ATVs to pre-existing alpine and wetlands; registration of all ATVs and Argos in the territory; making the rules applicable to outfitters and wilderness tour operators; and barring all motorized access from trails not currently used for ATVs.
The group is still waiting to hear a response and is frustrated by what it calls “decades of inaction” on the issue.
Despite its disappointment, TOYA believes Dixon will eventually support its motion in the house.
“I was fortunate enough to have Currie in my Grade 5 class, just a few years ago, and he was a conscientious, fine young man, even then,” said Peters. “I refuse to believe he will continue to be unresponsive about this.”
Dixon does see a future for ATV legislation in the territory, he told the Star in an interview early this afternoon.
“We’ve formed an extra departmental working group with the offices of the Department of Environment, Highways and Public Works and Energy, Mines and Resources,” Dixon said. “The first step is to say: ‘What do we have available to us now?’ and then ‘What can we do to move this forward?’”
Any future legislation would be multi-departmental and would take both environmental and safety concerns into account, said Dixon. He had no word, however, on when legislation may be ready for public consultation.
TOYA members also say they have the ear of NDP MLA Jim Tredger, who they say is concerned about ATV use in his own home riding of Mayo-Tatchun.
Though the group believe that public education should be a component of future ATV legislation, it should not be the only answer.
“When you put penalties in place, you are sending a message,” said Taylor. “For people that do the right thing, it says, ‘Good for you.’ For people who want to break the rules, it says otherwise.”
They are not certain how much the process would cost the territory, but believe it would be worth a substantial investment.
“There might be a few dollars spent doing something right, but that’s nothing compared to the cost of not doing anything at all,” said Taylor.
The group also wants the government to form a technical committee made up of key YTG employees and interest groups and produce a white paper for government consideration and public consultation.
“Let’s do this now,” said Peters.
Members of the group are clear that they do not oppose all ATV use.
Rather, they would like to see all interest groups come together to help draft legislation that works for all sides for the debate.
“Here’s a scoop: I have an ATV,” said Taylor. “I have had one for many years and I have driven hundreds of kilometres through this territory on it.
“I love my ATV, and I understand why others love to ride as well. I just want them to do it responsibly.”
Brian Fobe
Apr 18, 2012 at 8:02 pm
Well all I know is that there are millions of Acres that are untouched by anybody, but for this dictator group and others like it that is not good enough. I have been in the alpine with my ATV and you would never know I was there. No marks, no mud, no damage. It comes down to educating not dictating like the two at the top of this article which I have no respect for. I bet they use the trails we keep open with our ATV’s to get to their special spots just like the rest of their followers. God I am really starting to hate living in this dictatorship land and the Gov will bend to these guy’s because they at like BULLIES, Shame on you Yukon Party for listening to one group of people. I notice only people that are against ATV user’s are only ever interviewed and I was never contacted by Data Path or any one else I have talked to, hmmm. Why can’t everyone use the land not just select people and groups. These people only see what is just in front of them then make a big deal of it and that becomes the voice of the people or so they say. Well I know lots of Yukoner’s that say this is a load of stuff. Thanks for ruining our Yukon experience. 90% ya right. NDP just tryin to make a name for themselves and ruining the Yukon like they did in B.C. Guess I should just stay in my house like a mushroom
The respectful Yukon User