No one here is against hunting, or quads, for that matter.
One is an activity that pre-dates the foundation of our nation and the other is fast heading for similar cultural practice. To put it simply, they are things people do and the vast do it without harming others.
But when issues like those being experienced by the residents around the Echo Lake area come to light, we often have an expectation that government will help resolve the problem.
Indeed, many, many layers of government do have a place in the process.
However, we would ask, why can’t the users of the area, the quadders and the shooters, work together to preserve what they have?
The only way the quad riders and shooters can keep what they have is by coming together and as a whole and improving what they do.
It’s not as if any of this is new. In the north of the county the Pembina Driftbusters Snowmobile Club maintains hundreds of kilometres of trails running across public and private land.
They have relationships with other landowners and act as custodians of the trails — making sure their members stay safe and respectful. They are also part of something bigger — membership of the Driftbusters gives you access to snowmobile track all over the province.
Groups like the Driftbusters are a great example of how recreational users of public and adjoining land owners can get along.
Such private enterprise, the ability to find consensus and solutions without the intervention of government is always better. It shows that people who use the space, care about the space.
Like we said before, only one side is going to lose in the ‘Battle for Echo Lake’, and it’s not going to be the residents.
Their grievances are so shocking, it has to jolt someone, some department, some government bureaucrat into action.
And that can only mean, at a minimum, greater scrutiny as to what’s going on down there. It’s a shame that people have to appeal to higher powers to regain their quality of life, but equally as bad is the potential for locking up of public land because a few can’t keep themselves in check.
