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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-08-11, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2005. Letter to the editor Writer urges for support of ATV industry THE EDITOR, It wasn’t long ago that snowmobiling was considered to be an intrusive activity. Its participants were perceived as being vagrant trespassers and reckless vagabonds. It was a time when enthusiasts of this sport were presented with a tremendous amount of resistance from the communities and local municipalities that they travelled to. However, the economical benefits that could be realized from supporting this industry were determined to be far too significant to ignore. In virtually every northern Ontario community they are now embraced and welcomed with open arms. Each year brings a new season of winter delight for the business owners of chalets, taverns, and restaurants. They wait in exuberant anticipation for the return of a client that will spend money in their chalets, their restaurants, their shops, and their resorts. Their arrival is as much anticipated as the arrival of a courting pair of bald eagles returning to their nesting site for all bird watchers to behold in awe and wonderment. The recreational sport of ATVing, within the province of Ontario, is expected to surpass snowmobiling in the next five years. Its season extends from early spring until late fall which far surpasses the snowmobile industry which has just a few short months in the winter season to enjoy and its success is contingent on the amount of snowfall we acquire as well. In the year 2004 sales for ATVs in the Canadian marketplace reached a record high. Based on industry Letter estimates, the total retail value of these sales were estimated to be 671 million dollars. The economic derivative of the sales of just the units themselves has a direct and positive impact on the aftermarket in several different industries including: tourism, the garment industry, parts and accessories. This recreational activity has become a multi-billion dollar industry. The current political climate for allowing the use of these machines in various municipalities has not been positive. There are those strongly trying to prevent local municipalities from passing by-laws allowing the use of ATVs in their jurisdictions. To date, there are over 70 municipalities across Ontario that have agreed to pass bylaws allowing ATVs access to local roads. This is only the beginning. There is a parallel to be made in determining the economic vitality of the ATV industry to what the snowmobile industry has offered the province in the past and present. The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs has been in existence for 30 years. It boasts a membership of 200,000 within 250 clubs and 17 districts throughout the province. They are the largest snowmobiling organization in the world. Their existence has permitted the safe use of snowmobiles throughout a complex and diverse trail system that was painstakingly established and maintained through a network of volunteers. This trail system extends through both private land and existing multi-use trail systems that allow users and participants of this sport to have access to the same trail system that other taxpayers have during the year. It is a system that is in place for all citizens to use and enjoy including mountain bikers, horseback riders, and hikers. The Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicle clubs (OFATV clubs) was formed June 12, 1999. They are a not-for-profit volunteer-driven organization dedicated to developing an organized trail system across Ontario. There is a sound purpose for their existence. Having a structured organization in place to mandate the safe use of ATVs on multi-use trail systems will keep the participants of this recreational activity harmonious with the communities, its citizens, private landowners, and the conservation authority. One argument that opponents have against the recreational use of all terrain vehicles (ATVs) is that they are an environmental hazard. If one is to pursue this logic then so are snowmobiles, lawnmowers, cars, motorized boats, lawnmowers, air conditioners and hairspray in aerosol cans that your grandmother uses every morning. Unless you are walking or using a horse and buggy to go to work everyday and living in a shelter fueled by a wood burning stove, then you are a polluter of the environment. However, we can put in place measures to ensure the least amount of damage can be prevented to our surroundings and the environment whatever the activity you are enjoying. All ATVs are now required to meet and most actually exceed very stringent exhaust emission requirements that are determined by the US EPA. ATV NatureWatch is a program that has been incorporated and embraced by the Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicle clubs and its one thousand members. They address five key areas of concern: safety and the environment, sensitive habitats, trail etiquette, private property, and crimes of nature. This is a comprehensive program that has implemented policies and procedures for ATV operators to follow and adhere to. It is a responsible and proactive approach to managing the use of ATVs in Ontario. The pertinent question here is not whether to allow the use of ATVs throughout the province via a multi­ use trail system, but how to convince local municipalities and their constituents that it is in their best interest to pursue this comprise. It’s the fundamental principle of comprise that allows all citizens to live in relative peace and harmony in a demographic society. It is an ideology that infringement of* freedom and continuum of acceptance of our civil liberties. The pursuit of ATVing, as a recreational activity, is one of those comprises. Lori Leckie Vice-President and Co-Founder Ontario ATV Search and Rescue Federation. dismisses the an individual’s embraces the tolerance and - Collectors1 Show & Tell See private collections — this weekend only! Talk to collectors & see: Toy trains John Labatt's collectibles Playmobile sets Cameras Wingham collectibles Postcards Indian artifacts and more! Come to the museum to see treasures belonging to local collectors! Library requests support THE EDITOR, The Clinton Library needs your nelp to preserve our local history. The library is seeking public support for a new microfilm reader/printer machine. With this reader/printer, the public will be able to access a wealth of local history material stored on microfilm. Currently, Clinton is the only town in Huron County without a reader/printer in its local library. The microfilms in Clinton Library include many local newspapers - The Clinton News Record, The Clinton New Era, The Blyth Standard and The Blyth Citizen - dating back to 1874. The library also holds full Huron County census from 1851 through 1901, church records and the Tweedsmuir Histories of the Women's institute. These stories tell our collective story and connect people all over the world to their Huron County roots. With the vast amount of records now available on interlibrary loan from other archives, a reader/printer would allow local researchers easy access to Canada’s past. Researchers can request to borrow microfilm of passenger lists, birth, marriage and death registrations, land records, census and newspapers from other countries from the Ontario Archives, the National Archives of Canada and other libraries. To date the library had raised about $5,000 towards the purchase of a reader/printer. This leaves about $7,000 to be raised towards the estimated cost of the equipment. We encourage you to support this very worthy endeavour. Drop by the library, call us at 482-3673 or mail your donation to: Clinton Public Library, Box 370, Clinton, ON N0M 1L0. Please make your cheque payable to Huron County Library and write “Donation Microfilm Reader” in line. We hope to offer reader/printer service to you soon. Sincerely, Trudy Koskamp Groothuis Branch Services Co-ordinator. to Clinton the memo this new Vendor fee just $5 Continued from page 1 a try.” The hope, said Richmond, is that businesses will become involved as well and bring their goods out onto main street. It is hoped that the spaces in front of vacant stores will be taken up by private vendors. “Vehicles are parked diagonally on the street and for $5 vendors will be allowed the width of their vehicles to display their items. Richmond said they are hoping for everything from and produce to to promote main Doors Open. If participate it will diversity with baked goods antiques. “We wanted street during businesses will really help. And hopefully we can create some ever hurts try.” Anyone information 9340. interest. I don’t think it to give something a interested in more is invited to call 887- North Huron Museum 273 Josephine St. Wingham, Ontario Tel: 519-357-1096 Saturday & Sunday August 13 & 14, 2005 10:00 am to 5 pm NOTICE TO OWNERS OF PIT BULLS WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CENTRAL HURON Take notice that Ontario Legislation - Bill 132, the Public Safety Related to Dog Statute Law Amendment Act 2005 will come into force August 29, 2005 (with a 60 day transition period for owners to comply with leashing, muzzling and sterilization requirements). After that date, individuals (other than pounds and research facilities as defined in the Animal Research Act and owners of ‘grandfathered’ pit bulls) will be prohibited from owning pit bulls. If you are currently an owner of a pit bull dog defined in the legislation as follows: “Pit bull includes, (a) a pit bull terrier, (b) a Staffordshire bull terrier, (c) an American Staffordshire terrier (d) an American pit bull terrier, (e) a dog that has an appearance and physical characteristics that are substantially similar to those dogs referred to in any of clauses (a) to (d). YOU MUST REGISTER your pit bull(s) with the Municipal Clerk on or before August 29th, 2005 during regular business hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in addition to all other licensing requirements of the Municipality of Central Huron. Failure to do so will result in the loss of the “grandfathered” status of the particular pit bull under the provincial legislation. An individual who contravenes any provision of this Act or the regulations or who contravenes an order made under this Act or the regulations is guilty of an offence and liable, on conviction, to a fine of not more than $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or both. For further information, please contact the Municipal Office at (519)482-3997 ext. 230.