New rules govern back country travel

MLA Bill Barisoff

Last year, a popular nearby back country recreational road was closed creating much frustration for regular users who frequented the road in question to access many popular trails.

Unfortunately the road in question was a “resource road” meaning that it has been privately constructed, in this case for logging activities, and as the road was no longer used, the company who had first constructed the road closed it down for liability reasons.

This was not the first time a popular back country road or bridge was closed for liability reasons. Recent regulatory changes for resource roads mean that for resource road users, they will now do so at their own accord and substantially at their own risk. These changes help negate liability concerns and in turn are intended to help keep more resource roads from being closed down preventing public access.

On a different topic, the BC Government has announced plans to add more recommendations from the Farm Assessment Review Panel that may be of interest to local farmers. The tax exemption limit on farm outbuildings will now be increased, and retired farmers can have the farmers dwelling classification extended provided the farm stays in production. Other changes include reduced administrative paperwork and more flexibility to meet or maintain farm status. Broad leaf maple syrup, breeding and live stocking raising practices and horse stud services used in horse rearing are new farm activities recognized for status purposes. For more information please visit http://www.farmassessmentreview.ca/pdfs/FARP-FAQ.pdf

As camping season is now once again underway in B.C. a reminder that you can visit the www.DiscoverCamping.ca website and reserve a camping spot at one of over 125 different B.C. parks all across British Columbia. Lower mainland, Okanagan and Vancouver Island area parks are the busiest, with over 1.3 million visits last year alone so if you are looking for a potentially less busy park consider more eastern and northern parks as exciting alternatives.

Last this week I would like to wish all students an active and happy summer vacation and I encourage all students to stay active and look for enjoyable learning opportunities this summer. The value of learning and the lessons yet to be discovered can last a lifetime.