Jay Fox, the new president of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association, is hoping the Manitoba government follows the lead of Alberta when it comes to crown land.
The Alberta government requires recreational users, such as all terrain vehicle operators, to contact the leaseholder of crown land prior to entering the property. This ensures the public knows the risks before entering and protects the lessee from biosecurity threats, Fox said.
“We want to have the right to informed access,” said Fox, who became MCPA president at the association’s annual general meeting in Brandon Dec. 16.
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As president, Fox’s priorities include establishing a simple traceability system, devising a usable hay crop insurance program and ensuring more control for lessees over access to crown land.
“We’re just trying to make sure the lessee has some power,” said Fox, a cow-calf operator near Eddystone, Man.
The MCPA met with Manitoba’s agriculture minister in November and asked Stan Struthers to consider the following requirements:
Two of the biggest concerns, Fox noted, are biosecurity hazards and public safety.
Transporting an invasive species, like leafy spurge, in ATV tires is an example of a biosecurity threat.
As well, livestock may be a risk to the public.
“On a quarter section for example, I (might) have a bull that may be a little dangerous. So I’d appreciate that you are aware and you not go near that quarter for your own safety,” Fox said.
Ian Wishart, president of Keystone Agricultural Producers, noted his organization has been working on a similar issue – ensuring the public is safe when entering privately owned farmland.
“The work we’ve been doing … is more in the area of educating the ATV and snowmobile people,” he said.
One significant concern on the radar, he added, is a case before the courts in Manitoba.
In 2008, an ATV rider flipped his machine by the Red River floodway northeast of Winnipeg. The accident left him a quadriplegic and in November he filed a lawsuit against the province for failing to maintain the dirt paths near the floodway.
If he wins the lawsuit, it could set a precedent for all landowners in Manitoba, Wishart said.
“We’re kind of concerned. If this particular court case goes badly, we’re prepared to push for a change in legislation to give us some protection (from lawsuits).”
Fox, who has been with the MCPA for four years, replaces outgoing president Joe Bouchard, who announced his resignation in the fall.
