Final Task Force Report Expected Soon

After receiving thousands of written submissions and conducting months of consultations, Voluntary Planning will soon release the final recommendations of its task force on off-highway vehicles.

The deadline to respond to the interim report on off-highway vehicle use is today, July 30. That report was released on Feb. 12.

Since April 2003, the task force held 24 community meetings, talked with numerous organizations and community groups, conducted extensive research and considered the views contained in written submissions. More than 1800 written submissions were received since the release of the interim report, adding to the more than 700 that had been received during earlier consultations.

The task force will now work to complete the final report that will be presented to government and released to the public as soon as it is available. The final report will be used to help government develop policies on off-highway vehicle use.

"We are pleased with the level of public participation throughout the consultation period. We have a lot of substantial input to review before the task force reaches a final position recommending how the government of Nova Scotia should proceed," said Louis Tousignant, chair of the task force.

Voluntary Planning -- Nova Scotia's Citizens' Policy Forum -- operates at arm's length from the provincial government. Members participate on task forces, project teams and sector committees.