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It’s a fragile environment that is ‘being impacted by the high levels of ATV activity in the area’

“It shows that our prime minister is in touch with the average, common Canadian doing average, common things,” he said. “For us as Yukoners, that location has been sort of a mainstay for dune buggies and ATVs and motor bikes for as long as I can ever remember.”

The issue of ATV use in the territory has been a talking-point since the Yukon election in October 2011, when activist group Trails Only received promises from all candidates to implement legislation that would keep off-road vehicles from disturbing ecosystems.

Yukon government staff said Wednesday they were still “actively considering how to manage use” in the area.

Mr. Leef said he was aware of environmental concerns about ATVs in tundra, wetlands and forests, but doesn’t consider the Carcross Desert to be one of the affected areas.

A recovery effort to protect a desert-dwelling species of plant has been underway in the area for at least five years, with federal staff from both Parks Canada and Environment Canada. The Prime Minister’s Office did not provide comment on Wednesday.

This isn’t about Stephen Harper, he just got in the middle of a local issue

“This isn’t about Stephen Harper, he just got in the middle of a local issue,” said Ken Taylor, a member of the Trails Only association that advocates vehicles stick to the network of thousands of old mining roads. “[Ryan Leef] should have known better.

“We’ve advertised the Yukon as this pristine wilderness environment. Well there’s a lot of places that used to be pristine that aren’t anymore and there’s places that used to be wilderness that frankly, just don’t look like it.”

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