- Admin
- #1
1. Right of Access
Albertans have the right to access vacant public land [section 26] and a road or trail on vacant public land [section 27] for recreation. Do you agree with open access to vacant public land and its roads and trails?
X Agree __Disagree __Don’t know
2. Limits to Right of Access
The regulation puts some limits on recreational access. People may not access vacant public land for activities that last longer than 14 days, in the event of a fire ban, in the face of an officially posted notice or barrier prohibiting entry, if there is a possibility of unreasonable loss or damage, or if disturbance standards would be exceeded. These restrictions are for public safety and stewardship of the land for future Albertans. Do you agree with these limitations on recreational access?
__Agree __Disagree X Don’t know
3. Access Permits
People or groups will need a permit for access to vacant public land for events or commercial purposes [section 29]. Examples of events are group hay rides, group camping and all-terrain vehicle rallies. Examples of commercial purposes are catering for events, film shoots and promotions. The permit sets out terms and conditions to manage and monitor cumulative effects on and to the public land [sections 30, 33] and may be issued electronically [section 32]. The access permit is free upon an application being accepted. Do you agree that a permit that sets terms and conditions should be needed to access vacant public land for events or commercial purposes?
__Agree X Disagree __Don’t know
They make it tough to get a permit, you jump through all the hoops and they just make more, trying to make you give up. Most would.
4. Trespassing
To protect public safety or property, users can be stopped from entering public land or be ordered to leave [section 25]. Examples might be:
A flood or avalanche risk;
Protecting fragile ecosystems; or
Preventing human-wildlife encounters [section 36].
People who disobey officials, notices or barriers may be charged with trespassing. People found guilty of trespassing may be fined up to $2,000 [section 36(7)]. Do you agree a fine, as proposed, is appropriate for persons found guilty of entering an area?
__Agree X Disagree __Don’t know
5. Temporary Closure
Officials have authority to temporarily close or secure a specific site to stop or prevent damage from misuse or overuse [section 41]. For example, all-terrain vehicles driven off designated trails can damage vegetation and habitat, and this habitat may need a long time to recover. Do you agree officials should be able to temporarily close sites on public land to protect the sites from damage?
__Agree _X_Disagree __Don’t know
They'll close everything and say its temporary.
6. Off-Highway Vehicles
In public land use zones for recreation, off-highway recreational vehicles like quads, snowmobiles or off-road motorcycles are allowed only on designated areas and trails [section 202]. This is to protect land and watercourses, vegetation and fish and wildlife. Some designated areas and trails also have size and weight restrictions.
To better manage Alberta’s public lands, the province has designated Public Land Use Zones, Recreation Areas and Recreation Trails. [Section 5 schedules 5-8] of the regulation identifies what lands are included in each zone, area or trail, and indicates if off-highway recreational vehicles are allowed. Some zones, like the Mclean Creek Off-highway Vehicle Public Land Use Zone and the Sibbald Snow Vehicle Public Land Use Zone, are managed with recreational vehicles in mind. If the schedule does not mention off-highway vehicles as part of the Public Land Use Zone, Recreation Area or Recreation Trail description, vehicles are not allowed in that location. However, people still have access for non-motorized recreation in the zone, area or trail. Do you agree that off-highway motorized vehicles should be restricted in some areas of public land? __Agree _X_Disagree __Don’t know
7. Open Fires
Fighting wildfires on public land costs Alberta taxpayers well over $100 million every year and burns thousands of hectares of forest. To help prevent wildfire, no open fires are allowed in a public land recreation area [section 197]. Fires may only be burned in facilities provided to contain them; for example, metal fire boxes or designated fire pits. The only wood that may be burned is provided firewood [section 213(3)].
__Agree X Disagree __Don’t know
If you agree to this they will ticket everyone for having a fire everywhere. We all know how to have a responsible fire.
8. Maintenance and Restoration
Campers and other users of public land have a responsibility to maintain the land in the condition in which they found it or restore the land to that condition when they leave the recreation area [section 213]. Do you agree users should leave the land in, or restore it to, the condition in which they found it?
__Agree _X Disagree __Don’t know
How could they patrol this, they will just give you a ticket and say your responsible to fix the land. What happened if you got there and it was that way. Give me a break.
Albertans have the right to access vacant public land [section 26] and a road or trail on vacant public land [section 27] for recreation. Do you agree with open access to vacant public land and its roads and trails?
X Agree __Disagree __Don’t know
2. Limits to Right of Access
The regulation puts some limits on recreational access. People may not access vacant public land for activities that last longer than 14 days, in the event of a fire ban, in the face of an officially posted notice or barrier prohibiting entry, if there is a possibility of unreasonable loss or damage, or if disturbance standards would be exceeded. These restrictions are for public safety and stewardship of the land for future Albertans. Do you agree with these limitations on recreational access?
__Agree __Disagree X Don’t know
3. Access Permits
People or groups will need a permit for access to vacant public land for events or commercial purposes [section 29]. Examples of events are group hay rides, group camping and all-terrain vehicle rallies. Examples of commercial purposes are catering for events, film shoots and promotions. The permit sets out terms and conditions to manage and monitor cumulative effects on and to the public land [sections 30, 33] and may be issued electronically [section 32]. The access permit is free upon an application being accepted. Do you agree that a permit that sets terms and conditions should be needed to access vacant public land for events or commercial purposes?
__Agree X Disagree __Don’t know
They make it tough to get a permit, you jump through all the hoops and they just make more, trying to make you give up. Most would.
4. Trespassing
To protect public safety or property, users can be stopped from entering public land or be ordered to leave [section 25]. Examples might be:
A flood or avalanche risk;
Protecting fragile ecosystems; or
Preventing human-wildlife encounters [section 36].
People who disobey officials, notices or barriers may be charged with trespassing. People found guilty of trespassing may be fined up to $2,000 [section 36(7)]. Do you agree a fine, as proposed, is appropriate for persons found guilty of entering an area?
__Agree X Disagree __Don’t know
5. Temporary Closure
Officials have authority to temporarily close or secure a specific site to stop or prevent damage from misuse or overuse [section 41]. For example, all-terrain vehicles driven off designated trails can damage vegetation and habitat, and this habitat may need a long time to recover. Do you agree officials should be able to temporarily close sites on public land to protect the sites from damage?
__Agree _X_Disagree __Don’t know
They'll close everything and say its temporary.
6. Off-Highway Vehicles
In public land use zones for recreation, off-highway recreational vehicles like quads, snowmobiles or off-road motorcycles are allowed only on designated areas and trails [section 202]. This is to protect land and watercourses, vegetation and fish and wildlife. Some designated areas and trails also have size and weight restrictions.
To better manage Alberta’s public lands, the province has designated Public Land Use Zones, Recreation Areas and Recreation Trails. [Section 5 schedules 5-8] of the regulation identifies what lands are included in each zone, area or trail, and indicates if off-highway recreational vehicles are allowed. Some zones, like the Mclean Creek Off-highway Vehicle Public Land Use Zone and the Sibbald Snow Vehicle Public Land Use Zone, are managed with recreational vehicles in mind. If the schedule does not mention off-highway vehicles as part of the Public Land Use Zone, Recreation Area or Recreation Trail description, vehicles are not allowed in that location. However, people still have access for non-motorized recreation in the zone, area or trail. Do you agree that off-highway motorized vehicles should be restricted in some areas of public land? __Agree _X_Disagree __Don’t know
7. Open Fires
Fighting wildfires on public land costs Alberta taxpayers well over $100 million every year and burns thousands of hectares of forest. To help prevent wildfire, no open fires are allowed in a public land recreation area [section 197]. Fires may only be burned in facilities provided to contain them; for example, metal fire boxes or designated fire pits. The only wood that may be burned is provided firewood [section 213(3)].
__Agree X Disagree __Don’t know
If you agree to this they will ticket everyone for having a fire everywhere. We all know how to have a responsible fire.
8. Maintenance and Restoration
Campers and other users of public land have a responsibility to maintain the land in the condition in which they found it or restore the land to that condition when they leave the recreation area [section 213]. Do you agree users should leave the land in, or restore it to, the condition in which they found it?
__Agree _X Disagree __Don’t know
How could they patrol this, they will just give you a ticket and say your responsible to fix the land. What happened if you got there and it was that way. Give me a break.
