Members of Off-Highway Vehicle Use Task Force Announced

VOLUNTARY PLANNING BOARD--Members of Off-Highway Vehicle Use Task Force Announced

A 12-member panel will review off-highway vehicle use in Nova Scotia.

The Voluntary Planning Board has appointed a task force to conduct the review. In April, the board accepted a request from the government to conduct the review.

Ron Russell, Minister of Environment and Labour, welcomed the appointment of the task force.

"It's a very strong group. I'm confident their deliberations will lead to a balanced set of recommendations for government's consideration," he said.

The review will cover public and user safety, liability, insurance, environmental damage, unauthorized use of private and public lands and enforcement systems.

"The panel reflects the range of interests affected by off- highway vehicle use," said David Bellefontaine, task force chair and acting chair of the Voluntary Planning Board. "It's a diverse and highly competent group that will ensure this important matter is considered from many perspectives."

The panel's early work will include developing a schedule for public consultation. "Once we've developed the schedule, we will ask for public submissions," said Mr. Bellefontaine. "I expect that we'll be holding meetings with stakeholders and town hall sessions in the fall."

An interim report that captures issues raised in the public consultations is expected this fall. The final recommendations from the task force are due in the spring of 2004.

NOTE: Following is a list of the task force members and brief biographies:

David F. Bellefontaine (Chair) Born and educated in Halifax, Mr. Bellefontaine graduated from the Society of Management Accountants and the Canadian Institute of Management and holds a professional port manager designation from the American Association of Port Authorities. He recently retired as president and chief executive officer with the Halifax Port Authority and currently operates a private consulting business. Mr. Bellefontaine is acting chair of the Voluntary Planning Board.

Robert Bailey Mr. Bailey's professional career was dedicated to policy development for the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia concerning the development of natural resources. He has particular expertise in environmental protection, water resources management and coastal zone management. He holds a PhD in Natural Resources Management from Cornell University, a master's degree in Regional and Resources Planning from the University of Waterloo, and a BSc. in Forestry from the University of New Brunswick. Mr. Bailey resides in Black River, Pictou Co.

Jim Todd Mr. Todd is a resident of Perotte, Annapolis Co., where he is self-employed as a graphic designer, illustrator and cartoonist. He is an avid hunter, fisherman and canoeist. He is a licensed Nova Scotia guide and all-terrain vehicle owner. Mr. Todd is vice-president of the Tobeatic Wilderness Committee and represents that committee on the Tobeatic Advisory Group, which provides advice to the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour. He has a background in cartography, survey principles and property law.

Sheila Campbell Ms. Campbell is a registered medical laboratory technologist with the Colchester Regional Hospital in Truro. She is also the owner-operator of a small business, "Mrs. C's ATV Rider Safety Training" in Noel, Hants Co. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on ATV safety and etiquette. She holds an ATV Rider Chief Safety Instructor Certification from the Canada Safety Council.

James W. Moir, Jr. Mr. Moir is a retired business executive who has extensive experience in corporate, volunteer and community leadership. Having held a variety of senior positions in the financial services industry, he retired in 1998 as president and chief executive officer of Maritime Medical Care, Inc. Mr. Moir has served as a director or officer of many academic, business and community organizations. He is past-chair of Voluntary Planning's Task Force on Non-Resident Land Ownership. Mr. Moir lives in Lunenburg County.

Jim Wolford A resident of Wolfville, Mr. Wolford has retired from a career as a biology instructor with Acadia University but remains active with the university as a volunteer. A well-known naturalist, educator, and conservationist with very broad interests, he has experience with Voluntary Planning's Land Resources Co-ordinating Council. He served on the board of directors of the Canadian Nature Federation for six years and maintains many other affiliations with environmental organizations.

David Barrett Mr. Barrett is secretary and woodlands manager of Barrett Lumber Company Limited, a family owned lumber operation in Lower Sackville. His experience includes more than 30 years on the board of directors of the Forest Products Association of Nova Scotia. He is a member of Voluntary Planning's Forestry Sector. Mr. Barrett is past-president of the Wood Product Manufacturing Association. His company created the Family Forestry Stewardship agreement.

Laurie Cranton Mr. Cranton attended Maritime Forest Ranger School in New Brunswick in 1980 and suffered a spinal cord injury a year later in a forestry accident. Since his accident, Mr. Cranton has counselled others with disabilities, served on various volunteer boards. He is an active snowmobiler and is involved in organizations related to tourism, snowmobiling and trail development. He is past president of the Snow Mobile Association of Nova Scotia. Mr. Cranton manages a family farm and woodlot, is president of a company offering wilderness horseback riding and is involved in a family business in the Margaree Centre area.

Natalie Yanchar Dr. Yanchar is medical director of trauma care in the division of pediatric general surgery at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax. She is also an assistant professor in surgery with Dalhousie University. Dr. Yanchar maintains memberships in several medical societies and is a Fellow, Division of Pediatric General Surgery, The Royal College of Physicians and surgeons of Canada. Her research specialty is prevention of injury to children. Dr. Yanchar is a frequent guest speaker on the subject of trauma in children and some of her work has focused on children and their activities with all terrain vehicles.

Louis Tousignant Mr. Tousignant is retired from a career in the federal civil service where he held a variety of senior management positions, finishing his career as senior assistant deputy minister in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. He has a proven track record in the management of complex public policy issues at all levels of government. He continues to contribute to policy development through his participation on Voluntary Planning's Natural Resources Sector. Mr. Tousignant currently resides in Brooklyn, Queens Co.

Devin W. Maxwell Mr. Maxwell graduated from Dalhousie Law School in 2001 after receiving a BA in Political Science and History in 1998. He is a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society and the Canadian Bar Association and is an associate with Burchell Hayman Parish in Halifax. He is a member and former chair of the race relations committee for the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society and resides in Halifax.

Dan Christmas Dan Christmas has served in various leadership positions in the Mi'kmaw Nation in Nova Scotia and was actively involved in the recognition and implementation of aboriginal and treaty rights in Nova Scotia. He is senior advisor with Membertou, assisting the chief and council and its management team in day-to-day operations. He has served as the executive chairperson of the Union of Nova Scotia Indians and is now serving his fourth consecutive term as an elected councillor for the Community of Membertou.