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How many government decision makers are ATV enthusiasts? |
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Sunday, 06 July 2008 |
Is there a disturbing conflict of interest within the halls of the provincial civil service? Since the debacle about the purchase of mini ATVs, I am hearing that a great number of those who develop and help to enforce policy are devoted all terrain vehicle enthusiasts.
Whether these provincial civil servants allow their personal preferences to influence their decisions matters not, it is the perception that counts.
For this reason, and strictly in the interest of fairness, the Auditor General should launch an immediate investigation into everything surrounding ATVs. The taxpayers of this province, those on both sides of this issue, must have confidence and faith in the system.
Goodness knows, we have more than our fill of government secrecy, the Commonwealth Games bid, led by government point men Scott Logan and Duff Montgomery, being a case in point. If these guys had been around a couple of hundred years ago, they could have made a fortune creating smoke screens for the native North Americans. It might have changed the outcome of history. I stray.
I am also hearing rumors of a powerful ATV lobbying influence on matters concerning the department of Natural Resources. Are decisions, involving hundreds of thousands of dollars, being stalled or sidetracked by all terrain vehicle riders trying to protect turf that is either privately owned or crown lands?
The flip flop over the purchaser of training ATVs for youngsters may just be the tip of the iceberg. The Auditor General should examine very closely the action of government members who are in the position of being able to throw up roadblocks, stalling woodland projects, projects that would take away more riding trails and trails that are on privately owned property.
Again, they may be as pure as the driven snow but we must be assured of that, not left to take it for granted. We were treated like mushrooms in the Commonwealth Games process, while those in charge pissed away nine million taxpayer dollars. Shame on them. That should never ever happen again. If it does, shame on us.
If I may offer a hint to the Auditor General, not that he needs my guidance, it would be that he should sit down with the Minister of Natural Resources, David Morse. Review the files on pending woodland projects and determine why some are moving through the system at an alarmingly slow pace.
Morse, by the way, is one of the government’s more effective ministers, very much under-rated by his peers and the media who cover Province House. I am also told he is very frustrated with interference from some of his colleagues.
The way to ease this frustration and to restore faith in this particular part of the system, is to have a complete airing on how all terrain vehicle regulations are developed and administered.
(Al Hollingsworth is a retired journalist and broadcaster)
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