The Alberta government announced they would revise its decision to ban off-highway vehicles from provincial Crown land.
The move first came into effect on April 15, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement posted on social media, Government House Leader Jason Nixon confirmed the change.
“There is currently no province-wide OHV ban. I’m happy to report that, after discussion with officials, Agriculture and Forestry is now recommending a region-specific approach based on overall fire risk within an area.”
Nixon said the province instituted the ban to reduce the risk of wildfires.
If one occurred, he added Alberta could not fly firefighters from other parts of the world to help.
CAO Jamie Doyle explained what an OHV ban would mean for the RMWB during the virtual townhall on April 16.
He said the ban would restrict the usage of municipal OHV staging areas.
“Since we don’t have any municipal OHV trails in the urban service area, the staging areas are only used by OHVs to access trails that are in a forest protection area where OHV use is restricted under this ministerial order, except in certain circumstances like industrial use or traditional use by Indigenous persons.”
Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA Tany Yao also said the province would discuss with local Forestry and Wildfire officials the feasibility of a phase-in strategy.
READ MORE: RMWB offers clarity on provincial fire ban
As the weather improves, there is the temptation to break physical distancing rules linked to COVID-19.
Scott Davis, Regional Director of Emergency Management said Alberta’s chief medical officer of health continues to monitor the situation.
He suggested looking to Dr Deena Hinshaw for any modifications to health and safety guidelines.
