NDP Government Bans Jeeps From Off-Roading In The Castle Parks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ottawa, ON – Arnold Viersen, Member of Parliament for Peace River—Westlock and Official Opposition Deputy Critic for Rural Affairs, expressed concern that the NDP Government of Alberta is targeting what is widely considered to be a staple aspect of rural life in Alberta, namely, the use of highway vehicles and OHVs (off-highway vehicles) such as quads and snowmobiles for recreational purposes.
The Government has banned the use of Jeeps and 4×4’s in Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildlands Provincial Park. They have also restricted OHV’s to a few select trails and plan to phase out Jeep, 4×4, quad, dirt bike, side by side and snowmobile usage in the parks in the next three to five years.
“The NDP seem intent on destroying the rural way of life. First it was the farmers and Bill 6, and then it was the carbon tax devastating the logging and petroleum industries. Now they have started on our rural recreation,” said MP Viersen. “Is there no part of the Alberta way of life that the NDP don’t want to destroy? My family and I love to go 4x4ing and be outdoors, as do thousands of other Albertans.”
One in 20 Albertans own an off-road vehicle of some kind. The vast majority of these people are responsible when it comes to recreational activities and, in fact, are often the ones cleaning up and maintaining the trails. “This decision to target rural Albertans and their way of life by this NDP Government is ridiculous and must be reversed immediately!”
Mr. Viersen encourages his constituents and all Albertans to contact the NDP Government and let them know how they feel about this controversial proposal. The Government has placed a deadline of March 20, 2017 for public input on this issue.
Email: ABParks.PlanComments@gov.ab.ca and cc the environment minister Shannon Phillips at aep.minister@gov.ab.ca
Mail:
Attn: Julie MacDougall
Alberta Environment and Parks
Parks Division
Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park
Draft Management Plan
4th Fl. Administration Building
909 – 3 Avenue North
Lethbridge, AB T1H 0H5

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