TOYA's 10 Common Beliefs at a glance
The Trails Only Yukon Association released its 10 Common Beliefs Wednesday based on feedback it has received and its interest in protecting the territory's landscape while also allowing ATV users to enjoy the outdoors.
The Trails Only Yukon Association released its 10 Common Beliefs Wednesday based on feedback it has received and its interest in protecting the territory's landscape while also allowing ATV users to enjoy the outdoors.
The 10 beliefs are as follows:
We agree that there is a legitimate place for responsible ATV use in the Yukon;
We agree that there is a need for ATV legislation/regulations to protect habitat and ensure healthy wildlife populations;
We agree that both education and effective enforcement are necessary to promote responsible use of ATVs;
We agree that different areas require different levels of ATV management;
We agree that some areas of the Yukon be designated as non-motorized zones from April 1 to Nov. 1;
We agree that legislation/regulations be proactive and endeavor to prevent damage instead of reacting after the damage is done;
We agree that ATVs be registered and clearly identifiable;
We agree that it is our collective responsibility to protect the legacy of wild places for present and future generations;
We agree that maintaining natural places is the key to survival of future wildlife populations; and
We agree that ATV users should be required to travel on existing hard bottom trails in alpine and sensitive wetlands areas.
The Yukon government is expected to begin consultations on potential off-road vehicle regulations through the summer.
Comments (10)
Up 0 Down 0
Josey Wales on May 24, 2014 at 12:03 pm
@Pro-Science Greenie...Arctic Dude is that you?
Up 17 Down 6
Northone on May 24, 2014 at 1:13 am
Recreational ATV's are being targeted because they are an easy target - no one will take on the mining industry which is responsible for many of the new trails that have popped up in the central Yukon during the last exploration boom. But recreational ATV operators are fair game. We all know any ATV law will not apply to first nations since their treaty rights would supersede any territorial regulations, nor will any law apply to industrial use of ATVs such as mineral exploration - only some of us who enjoy off-roading will be affected.
Mandatory licensing of ATV's, along with insurance (licenses are not given without proof of insurance) will render this pass time too expensive for many and is simply not necessary. Citing examples of regulation in other Canadian jurisdiction with millions of people living in them does not apply to Yukon's population of 35,000.
Voice your views to the government indeed, because if you don't, the eco zealots will and access to our back country will be severely curtailed - for some of us.
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Pro-Science Greenie on May 24, 2014 at 1:12 am
Where did this TOYA group come from and why are they doing what they're doing? And why do they have the delusions that they speak for all?
As a resident of the 'real Yukon' that exists outside of Whitehorse city limits I'm not going to register my old ATV and sled, I'm not going to wear a helmet when travelling down the trail with a load of firewood slower than a dog musher or skijorer and I am smart enough not to tear up sensitive areas.
Most of the problems that do exist could be dealt with under our hunting regulations and the rest are mostly Whitehorse issues that should stay in city limits.
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Werner Rhein on May 23, 2014 at 5:43 pm
This is my answer to all the TOYA yahoos and pseudo environmental protectors in the Yukon. Who gave you the right to complain about an activity that is ideal for up here.
How did you earn the right to complain about what a lot of real Yukoners do to enjoy the real Yukon.
Your complaints are only footed by the stupidity of a few dumb people who have no respect for the environment, including the mineral extraction Industry.
Where have you yahoos been in the real fight to protect the Yukons environment, the land, the water, the air. Why do we hear nothing from you about the immense destruction that took place last winter up on the Dempster Highway during the seismic exploration from the fracking Industry. Hundreds of Kilometers of new trail crisscrossing the geography, thousands of holes caused by 10 Kilograms of explosive charges in each hole. What do you think what this is doing to the wildlife, what do you think how long it will take to heal this wounds in mother earth. Never mind what will be happen when the mess really starts and the environmental criminals start fracking.
What do you think what the effects on the environment will be when the Casino monster mine opens.
There you wouldn't dare to open your mouth and say anything, because you my would lose your cozy desk job.
Get real and start doing something that would have a positive effect on the environment for all of us.
If you don't like ATV's then go back where you came from and sit in the city parks.
Up 15 Down 1
Francis Pillman on May 23, 2014 at 7:54 am
Who funds TOYA? I think we have a right to know. Because I can't find any info on their website.
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big northern man on May 23, 2014 at 7:10 am
I guess everyone is entitled to their opinions.... To that end however, I question how many of these regulations would be enforced in the Yukon Region?
How will you get people on board in the communities? Also, who will enforce these regulations in the middle of the bush? Are you going to pay for the increase of employees needed to find these bad apples? And no, cell phone photos of ATV's license plates will not work. Try and put that through court.
It also seems to me that people ripping up the environmentally sensitive areas will not be persuaded to end their wrong doings by MORE regulations. The only people this affects are people already abiding by the rules.
Why do we have to make rules for everything? There must be a better way of approaching this issue. I strongly feel that this will not solve the problem.
Up 19 Down 4
Yukoner73 on May 23, 2014 at 6:16 am
See Dick.
See Dick drive his ATV off the trail.
See Dick do possible irreparable damage.
See Dick not care.
Don't be a Dick.
There are plenty of trails. Common sense tells us that if you go off the trails, you will damage "something". Be it a crocus, or a frog or your ATV...whatever. Chances of you ruining something by going off trail is nigh on 100%. Lets not be naive here.
So ride on the trails. Pretty simple really. But don't do it because a hastily formed reactive group of some sort or the Yukon Terrified Guvmint tells you to. Do it because you don't want to be a Dick.
Up 27 Down 8
Atom on May 23, 2014 at 4:19 am
Josey that was funny....this time
This group is unwanted....no one supports them, not wild wise not fish and game....no one...why?...because there is no end to the idiocy of idealists in this Territory.
More galling is the old guard in the sister article and who you hear on the radio, all long time YG employees who used information they gained from their work re where wildlife were, then drove their atv's there to harvest them....now that it's taboo to do that they are in need of a 'soul wash'....'god forbid anyone do the things we did'....'why we need to keep the Yukon like it used to be....'
There's already mechanisms in place to charge folks for environmental damage...don't muck up the whole thing for everybody with a holier than thou rule book.
My message....Stay out of my Yukon
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bobby bitman on May 23, 2014 at 3:10 am
I am on board with all ten recommendations.
Josey, grow up. This is not your personal sand box and the tired old argument that in a Real Yukon, Real Yukoners should be able to do whatever the H they want to our natural world is juvenile.
Who said you need permission from a special interest group to live your life? 'Stupidity'? I'd say you are the only one spouting stupidity so far on this page. What an attitude of entitlement you display.
You should start taking up some concern for what will be left behind for next generations and our fellow inhabitants of the Yukon, that being the animals, birds, fish, plants and so on. It is not all about your 'fun'.
The world is becoming more crowded, more people are moving into the Yukon, and technology is delivering more ways to destroy this place. The concept of 'eldership' means something. It means growing up and seeing what is important, protecting what is good with an eye to passing it on to the next generation.
I may have wasted my typing on a fool, but am hoping you just need a wake up call.
I am a 'real Yukoner' and a person who rides ORV's and I have no problem with this document.
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Josey Wales on May 22, 2014 at 7:55 am
My top one belief...at a glance.
I (hopefully we) agree that one need not permission from any special interest group to live our lives here in the Yukon.
Okay one more...
I (hopefully we) agree research is needed to locate where all the stupidity seems to becoming from as of late ...especially in the Whitehorse region.
This is fun actually...please one more?
I (hopefully we) agree a barrier could be constructed in and around the Whitehorse region to either KEEP the stupid in or out of the region to mitigate the chances of our collective society getting any stupider than current levels.