WHEREAS the provincial government planned to introduce legislation in late 2010 to provide for ORV licensing and safety features; AND WHEREAS such legislation would greatly enhance back-country activities in rural British Columbia: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM urge the Province of British Columbia to enact ATV licencing legislation as soon as possible in 2011.
Ministry of Forests, Lands Natural Resource Operations In November 2009, government announced that the Off-Road Vehicle ORV Management Framework would be implemented by regulatory changes in approximately two years. In June 2010, government formally established an ORV Joint Advisory Group with twenty provincial stakeholder associations, including UBCM, to ensure the successful implementation of the new ORV laws. A presentation by ministry staff on the ORV framework was well received by regional districts at the annual meeting of the electoral area directors. In September 2010, UBCM formed an ORV local government working group comprising municipalities and regional districts from across the province. Collaboration between the working group and ministry staff has been highly successful. New ORV laws are being rolled out in phases, starting in November 2011 with safer highway crossings. Full implementation is expected by fall 2012. This timeframe allows for necessary legislative improvements to modernize ORV legislation and address key issues raised by stakeholders, including better enforcement.