‘They’re leaving behind scars that last a lifetime’

Ninety-three per cent of Yukoners want some sort of legislation over all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use

Ninety-three per cent of Yukoners want some sort of legislation over all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use to protect the Yukon wilderness, according to a recent poll commissioned by the Trails Only Yukon Association (TOYA).

The poll, completed by DataPath Systems of Marsh Lake, found that 42 per cent of Yukoners want ATV use controlled only in extremely sensitive areas, while 51 per cent want control in all situations.

Seven per cent of people said they don’t want any legislation.

“There is no more debate whether Yukoners want safeguards put in place,” Vern Peters, a member of TOYA, told a press conference he held at his Porter Creek C house this morning. “The only debate is which party in the coming election is going to be prepared to do that.”

Ken Taylor, another TOYA member, said their organization wants to support ATV enthusiasts. But they want to support them using the “thousands and thousands” of bulldozed and old exploration roads.

“When you reach the end of those bulldozed roads, get out and walk,” Taylor advised ATV enthusiasts.

“Don’t just turn your machine left and plow your way through sensitive habitat.”

Peters said that the Yukon is the last lawless jurisdiction in Canada when it comes to ATV use. He has noticed people from Alberta and B.C. coming to the Yukon for just that reason.

“Folks come here to do things they can’t do in their own region,” said Peters. “They’re leaving behind scars that last a lifetime and a little bit of gas money. Is that all our wilderness is worth – a little bit of gas money?”

DataPath surveyed 275 people from August 4-11– 193 in Whitehorse and 82 outside of the city. The survey cost $850, and was paid in full by a donation from one TOYA member.

The reason the organization, which has been existence for almost two years, wanted to conduct the survey was to have a scientific measure of where Yukoners stand on the ATV issue.

“There’s been some surveys,” said Peters, “but they haven’t really been scientific.”

One member, right when the organization was created, knocked on more than 700 doors in Whitehorse to find out what residents want when it comes to ATV legislation. At this time, 73 per cent of residents wanted some sort of protection.

Peters said the organization also wanted confirmation on what it’s doing.

“Quite frankly, Yukoners have wanted to move this issue forward for 25 years. Some loud voices have said, ‘Hey, this isn’t a big deal.’ Well, we think that wilderness for Yukoners is a big deal,” said Peters.

The poll also found that there is strong support for one specific recommendation in the legislature’s report on the Safe Operation and Use of off-road Vehicles, which was released last March.

Eighty-seven per cent of Yukoners support the recommendation to exclude off-road vehicles from specific types of land and habitat, 84 per cent support the idea of restricting the growth of trail networks in sensitive areas, while 82 percent want certain areas designated as access routes only.

The results which surprised both Peters and Taylor was Yukoners’ response to the following question: Are you in favour of a moratorium which stops the creation of any new recreational ATV trails until controlled access regulations have been put in place?

Fifty-three per cent of those surveyed said yes, 28 per cent said no and 19 per cent said they are unsure.

“I think this speaks to the fact the people don’t want a moratorium, they want legislation,” said Peters.

A moratorium, he continued, can also just be another tactic to delay the process of protecting habitat and wildlife from ATV damage.

As for the seven per cent of people who are against any sort of legislation for ATV use, Peters thinks the fact that it’s such a small percentage points to what Yukoners really want.

“In the papers and in the press and in past years, people have said this is a really contentious issue,” he said. “Well, we don’t think it’s a very contentious issue.”

Taylor said the seven per cent of people opposing any sort of ATV control have been “loud, aggressive and noisy” on the issue.

“When people feel threatened, I think they tend to get their backs up,” he said.

“Unless what you’re saying is that you want to go anywhere you want, anytime you want and destroy whatever you want, then we’re not opposed to you. We need to work together.”

Frankly, continued Taylor, for those who do want all those things, we are against you.

He and Peters know simply educating the public on environmental damage from ATVs is not good enough. Other jurisdictions have tried the educational route and, according to Taylor, it “utterly fails.”

Taylor, a retired educator and former leader of the Yukon Liberal Party, used a classroom analogy to drive his point home.

“If I said at the start of the year, ‘We’d really like you to behave, but if you don’t, there’s not much we can do,’” he explained. “That’s probably not going to be a good recipe for success for the rest of the year.”

As for enforcing legislation, Taylor and Peters said they are aware some people will break the law. They believe, though, that the vast majority of Yukoners are “good people”.

“If you give people a fair guideline, a clear rule, they’ll follow it most of the time,” said Taylor.

TOYA is now planning its political strategy. It will ask each candidate questions around supporting ATV legislation and when they would implement such legislation.

The organization will then take out report card-style ads in Whitehorse newspapers in the weeks leading up to the territorial election.

NDP Leader Liz Hanson was the only political party representative who responded to the Star’s request for comment before press time this afternoon.

She said implementing the recommendations from the select committee’s spring report is one of the party’s first priorities.

“I’m not surprised with the outcome of the poll,” said Hanson. “This issue has struck a chord with so many Yukoners.”

By Nadine Sander-Green
Star Reporter