MINISTER NOT BEING TRANSPARENT ON MAIN RIVER

Our provincial government, which is legislated to protect our special natural areas, has violated its national obligations by approving the construction of an ATV trail in the Main River Waterway Provincial Park/canadian Heritage River.

Main River is not just another park. It is one of only 40 select rivers in Canada to receive Canadian Heritage River status. It is in the same special category as Gros Morne National Park and Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve. Main River was selected to be a Canadian Heritage River because of its unique recreation, cultural and natural heritage values, one of which is its healthy stock of wild Atlantic salmon in a free-flowing wild river.

Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation Minister Steve Crocker said last week that the solution to the ATV problem in Main River is to “upgrade the outdated regulations,” and that “it is time to improve transparency.” The regulations do not need to be changed. What does need updating is government’s attitude that it can do whatever it wants with our natural resources and special places without consulting the pubic. Main River was set aside for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and Canadians, not for the sitting government.

The minister made no mention of the fact that the Main River Management Plan forbids ATVS and ATV trails. Instead, he dismisses all of the public meetings, negotiations with local communities, environmental and conservation organizations and the sacrifices made by Corner Brook Pulp and Paper, and approves an ATV trail — a trail which will undoubtedly be utilized by hundreds of people, enabling them to encroach on the remote headwaters of the Main River and affecting the integrity of the river and one of its prime reasons for being nominated to Canadian Heritage River status.

If the government really desired to be transparent they should have followed the Main River Management Plan, or at least had public consultation on the proposed trail before allowing it to be constructed, consultation that is embedded in the Stewardship Advisory Committee; sadly, a committee that was abandoned by the government a few years ago.

If this ATV trail is allowed to be used, what’s next? Will the minister give permission for additional ATV trails accessing the remote headwaters or an ATV trail throughout the picturesque “Big Steady”? Will the minister permit an ATV trail in Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve to allow access to Golden Bay?

Speak up, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians — let your MHAS know we value our parks and protected areas.

Donald Hustins

St. John’s