The Yukon government is inching toward establishing an effective framework to controlling the use of off-road vehicles.

The territory is one of the few jurisdictions in Canada that doesn’t have a practical and implemented template for managing the popular vehicles.

They include quads, side-by-sides, amphibious vehicles such as ARGOs, mini-bikes, dirt bikes and any motor vehicle that’s being driven elsewhere than a highway, regardless of whether it’s registered under the Motor Vehicles Act. 

That’s about to change, although it will take some time to set up all of the framework for the new regulation announced Thursday.

Snowmobiles are exempt, at least for the moment.

The new legislation provides the first concrete actions by the government on the issue that’s been debated for years without any concrete action being taken.

It unveiled three new areas that will have only limited access to trails from this point forward, which is bound to be controversial in some quarters.

“The new Off-Road Vehicle Management Area Regulation will allow additional control of off-road vehicle use in identified areas in Yukon,” the government announced during a news conference Thursday.

“The regulation will provide an effective regime to prevent, reduce and mitigate the environmental impacts of off-road vehicle use on public land, while recognizing the needs of responsible off-road vehicle users.”

The conference was led by deputy Premier Ranj Pillai, who is also the minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, among other portfolios.

“Our government has worked with Yukoners to develop regulations that will protect the landscape and continue to allow people to use their off-road vehicles responsibly for work and recreation,” he said.

Pillai said the new regulatory regime will be phased in with a heavy emphasis on educating the public for the next year.

The government is still working on making changes to the Motor Vehicles Act and establishing a fine schedule to flesh out the regulation introduced Thursday.

Pillai said the new regulation will also assist the government in meeting commitments made with respect to planned areas such as the Peel watershed region and Ddhaw Ghro Habitat Protection Area.

Those are two of the designated areas where the regulation will apply, along the alpine areas above 1,400 metres in elevation controlled by the government.

Pillai said he’s most excited about that provision.

“It’s a complete limitation on establishing new trails in alpine areas. People have to stay on the trails,” he said.

Those regions had been a particular hot point in the controversy over regulating off-road vehicles, he said, and have been showing signs of damage in ecologically sensitive areas.

“We know outdoor vehicles are important to Yukoners,” Pillai said.

“We’ve been engaging on this for years, but this is a policy for all Yukoners. That’s why the approach will be education-based to start with.”

The regulation doesn’t apply to First Nation lands, private property or areas controlled by municipalities.

The new regulation was described as a “new toolbox” by government officials at the news conference.

Pillai admitted the regulations will be difficult to enforce once the education period ends.

“It’s absolutely difficult to enforce,” he acknowledged. “That’s why there will be fines.”

Natural resources officers (NROs) will be the first line of enforcement, Pillai said, with the possibility conservation officers could also be involved.

The are about 30 NROs available to patrol the Yukon currently.

The news release stated “Off-Road Vehicle Management Area Regulation was developed following extensive engagement with Yukon First Nations, stakeholders and the public over the last decade.

“Yukoners have told us that regulating off-road vehicle use is needed to address environmental impacts related to increased ORV use in the backcountry, and we have listened,” the release said.

“Off-road vehicles give Yukoners access to the backcountry for work, hunting and recreation, and this access may have impacts on sensitive terrain and habitats.”

The regulation initially creates three Management Areas, including Alpine Areas, a portion of the Peel Watershed region and the Ddhaw Ghro Habitat Protection Area.

Vern Peters of the Trails Only Yukon Association told the Star the group is “cautiously optimistic” about the regulations.

He said the organization wants time to take a deeper look into what the government is doing before commenting further.

It’s planning on holding a news conference next Thursday to further discuss the regulation.