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BC Chamber of Commerce
#1201, 750 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 2T8
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Advocacy & Policy
2010 - 2011 Policy & Positions Manual
Positions on Selected Provincial Issues - Transportation and Infrastructure
Registration, Licensing and Management of Off-Road Vehicles (ORV’s) (2009)
One of the avenues available for economic development in the tourism sector is the development of all-season motorized sports opportunities. Precedents have been established in the eastern provinces and in various states within the US. The proven potential is in the hundreds of millions of dollars when the potential for all-season sports is recognized. The key is the creation of safe and environmentally sustainable opportunities, both locally and within the backcountry.
Part of the creation of these opportunities is the ability to identify riders of motorized recreational off-road vehicles (MRORVs), with the emphasis on those riders who choose to damage the environment or ride in unsafe manners. Currently the only off-road vehicles that are registered within the province are snowmobiles. BC is the only jurisdiction within North America that does not register ORVs.
In 2005 an initiative was completed by the Coalition for Licensing and Registration of Off-Highway Vehicles in BC and the Provincial Government in providing recommendation for the licensing of ORVs. This coalition was made up of a variety of user groups, both motorized and non-motorized, and all the recommendations were unanimously supported by all participants. To date none of the recommendations have been implemented by the Provincial Government, including the minimum of basic safety and registration.
In order to take advantage of the potential economic benefits of summer motorized sports tourism, the business community is insistent that they be able to recognize or identify any machine that is using the back country for motorized recreation.
Specifically for motor sport dealerships, the number of stolen ORV’s in BC is at a crisis point as British Columbia has become a dumping ground for stolen units from across Canada and the United States. BC’s reputation as being the place to “off load” or to purchase stolen used units continues to seriously impact new unit sales for legitimate businesses in British Columbia.
The financial impact of stolen ORV’s in British Columbia is expected to be $5-10 million. This translates to increased insurance claims resulting in the small business owner paying excessive amounts for ICBC garage policy insurance and minimum deductible amounts are now becoming unreasonable.
THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS:
That the Provincial Government immediately institute the registration of motorized recreational off-road vehicles and explore the options to implement the remainder of the recommendation developed and submitted by the Coalition for Licensing and Registration of Off-Highway Vehicle in British Columbia.