BILL NO. 45

(as introduced)

3rd Session, 61st General Assembly
Nova Scotia
60 Elizabeth II, 2011

Private Member's Bill

Wilderness Areas Protection Act
(amended)

The Honourable Jamie Baillie
Cumberland South

First Reading: April 28, 2011

(Explanatory Notes)

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

Clause 1 allows for off-highway vehicle use on existing trails within a designated wilderness area and requires that management plans for wilderness areas be enacted and adopted within twelve months of this Bill receiving Royal Assent.

1 Chapter 27 of the Acts of 1998, the Wilderness Areas Protection Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 23 the following Section:

23A (1) Off-highway vehicles must be permitted on traditional roads, routes and trails within wilderness areas designated pursuant to subsection (2).

(2) The Minister shall cause public consultations to be held with the persons and stakeholders who use, or reside within the region of, a wilderness area to

(a) determine the number and location of
(i) traditional roads, routes and trails, and

(ii) camps and cottage leases;

(b) develop a management plan for each wilderness area; and

(c) designate traditional roads, routes and trails for use by off-highway vehicles.

(3) The management plan developed pursuant to subsection (2) must be enacted and adopted within twelve months of this Section coming into force.

(4A) A person holding a renewable lease or licence to access a camp in a wilderness area is entitled to renew that lease or licence.