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By: Robert Janis
The Canadian OHV Distributors
Council--A Voice for
the
Off-Highway Related Businesses and
Enthusiasts of Canada
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Motorcycle shows for 2007. |
“Together, these principles provide a strategic
concept for OHV development now and for the
future,” said Farquhar. “Encourage family and
friends to join a rider club. Practice safe,
responsible riding. Ultimately, get involved, so
you can protect your right to ride and where to
ride.”
Some of the special programs administered by
COHV include an ATV Riders Course and an OPEN
ROAD Insurance Program.
The rider’s course is a 5 ½- to 7-hour training
program operated by the Canada Safety Council
(C.S.C.) certified instructors. “The curriculum,
which is based on field-tested techniques,
provides a fun and orderly way to learn proper
ATV operation,” said Farquhar. “The rider learns
about controls, reading terrain, turning, and
climbing hills. There is also a separate ATV
Rider’s Course available for children under the
age of 14 whose parents specifically permit them
to ride ATVs.
The OPEN ROAD Insurance Program offers insurance
at competitive rates for all makes and models of
off-highway vehicles. It provides a 24-hour
emergency claims service and a “Pay As You Ride”
payment option.
COHV has three staff members who are registered
lobbyists with the federal government. The
organization influences the Canadian legislature
as well as local governments and other decision
makers with face-to-face meetings,
presentations, lobbying, letter-writing
campaigns, safety messages through public
service announcements, print advertising, safety
brochures, and posters.
COHV has been asked many times to participate in
studies and various provincial reviews of ATV
legislation. “These studies and reviews pertain
more to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR)
and challenges being dealt with by field
officers during ATV seasons,” said Farquhar.
“COHV prepares submissions outlining our
position on trail development and what and how
to protect the environment and develop
productive legislation that allows clubs,
federations, and families to ride and enjoy
Canada’s scenic forests, lakes, and vast
countryside.”
Supporting Local Clubs
As a national organization the COHV works with
local, provincial, and national rider clubs and
federations across Canada. It supplies
information, safety materials, and advice on OHV
safety, education, and training. Moreover, the
group works with clubs and other entities in
building relationships with local and provincial
government ministries and offices on issues
concerned with ATV trails, riders, and
legislation pertaining to OHV recreation.
Moreover, COHV has a sustaining and project
funding grant program that is used by national
All-Terrain Vehicle and Off-Road Motorcycle
Rider Federations to help develop and implement
rider safety training, education and
environmental initiatives. “Since its inception
the COHV sustaining and project grant fund has
allocated close to $6 million to qualified OHV
rider federations across Canada,” said Farquhar.
The fund is supported by COHV member companies
including Arctic Cat, BRP (CAN-AM), Honda,
Kawasaki, KTM, Polaris, Suzuki,, and Yamaha. “By
allocating these funds COHV and its member
companies are enabling rider federations to take
a leading role when it comes to reinforcing the
importance of education, training and protecting
the responsible interests of local OHV club
members,” she added.
The group also works with off-road motorcycle
groups, the Canadian Council of Snowmobile
Organizations, Canadian Trails Federation, the
Rider Training Institute, and the Canada Safety
Council to promote training, education, and
safety. It also works with groups in the United
States including the National Off-Highway
Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC), the
Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), the Specialty
Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) and the
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). “We
collaborate with those groups on discussions and
decisions around technical standards for OHVs,
on effective OHV trail planning and guidelines
around safety and training legislation. Laws
vary between provinces and states so we feel we
benefit from a collaborative relationship with
groups in both Canada and the United States. In
fact, we all benefit from sharing results on
studies, safety materials, surveys, and
statistics. We all want the same thing---o know
that families are enjoying safe, fun ATV
recreational activity on well maintained
trails,” said Farquhar.
The most urgent issues being worked on through
the collaboration with off-road groups in the
United States include:
- Where to ride
- Being environmentally aware
- Showing consideration for trailside residents.
- Training and education.
- Allowing youth to ride.
Websites
The COHV/MMIC uses a number of websites to
educate members and the public about ATV and
off-road motorcycle riding. The site for COHV is
www.cohv.ca
and the site for the Motorcycle & Moped Industry
Council is
www.mmic.ca. A youth ATV safety
campaign is promoted at
www.dontblamejake.ca. Information on
the ATV rider’s course can be found at the
Canada Safety Council website at:
www.safety-council.org.
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