Nova Scotia Faces Complaints, Opposition After Banning Going Into Woods Due to Wildfire Risk

Nova Scotia’s government is facing complaints and frustration in the face of new rules that ban residents from entering the province’s forests due to wildfire risk.

The ban, which was announced Aug. 5 by Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, has led to a petition to end the ban from the Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF), along with thousands of frustrated and confused comments and questions on social media.

“Nature lovers should be free to responsibly enjoy our forests,” CCF litigation director Christine Van Geyn posted on X with a link to the organization’s petition on Aug. 7. “Nova Scotia must end the unreasonable, provincewide ban on entering the woods and replace it with targeted measures that respect our constitutional rights.”

According to Houston, implementing the ban and $25,000 fines for breaking it was necessary in order to prevent wildfires, particularly due to the “incredibly dry weather” the province has been experiencing. According to Natural Resources Canada, Nova Scotia has experienced 96 wildfires so far this year, compared to 855 in Alberta and 630 in B.C.

“The fires we are seeing right now are burning deeper into the root system and going deep underground,” Nova Scotia’s Minister of Natural Resources Tory Rushton said at the Aug. 5 press conference. “Only a significant amount of rain will change these conditions for Nova Scotia.”

In addition to prohibiting hiking, fishing, offroad vehicles, and any camping outside designated areas, Nova Scotia has banned all work in the woods by foresters, miners, and other industries from being done without first obtaining an exemption permit. 

On Aug. 7, Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources posted on X, advising anyone who wishes to apply for a work permit or ask questions about the ban on entering the woods to contact their local Department of Natural Resources office. It warned people to only call the emergency wildfire hotline to report fires, urging them to “NOT tie up this line with questions.”

So far this year, the province says it has issued $288,000 in fines for violating its fire ban.

The CCF petition says that “targeted measures” such as banning additional specific activities that expose forests to wildfire risks can be put in place while still protecting the constitutional rights of Nova Scotia residents. 

“He says this is needed to prevent wildfires. But it is a severe overreach,” the petition reads. “We urge Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston to rescind this ban and implement targeted measures that protect our forests while respecting the rights of responsible nature lovers.”

Newfoundland and Labrador is currently dealing with out-of-control wildfires that have burned down multiple buildings and led to hundreds having to flee their homes, with Premier John Hogan applying a $50,000 fine to anyone caught having an open fire. However, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are still permitted to enter the woods in their province. 

This isn’t Nova Scotia’s first ban on entering its forests, as it did so in 2023 for about one week while two large wildfires were burning down hundreds of homes in the Halifax suburbs, leading to 16,000 residents having to evacuate. 

“I know it’s the height of summer vacation and people want to do all the activities that we so much enjoy,” Houston said on Aug. 5. “But we have to stay out of the woods. It’s a small price to pay right now to avoid the kind of devastation that we saw from the wildfires in 2023.”

Nova Scotia says its ban on entering the woods will extend until Oct. 15 or until conditions offer less risk of wildfires.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.