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The Canadian province of Nova Scotia is facing pushback for what some have called “draconian” restrictions as it tries to limit wildfire risk in extremely dry conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last week, Nova Scotia banned all hiking, fishing and use of vehicles like ATVs in wooded areas, with rule breakers facing a C$25,000 ($18,000) fine. A tip line has been set up to report violations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Canadian Constitution Foundation, a non-profit that defends charter rights in the country, called the ban a “dangerous example of ‘safetyism’ and creeping authoritarianism”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tens of thousands of residents are under evacuation alerts in eastern Canada as the country experiences its second worst wildfire season on record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says human activity is responsible for almost all wildfires in the Atlantic province – official statistics from 2009 say 97% of such blazes are caused by people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Wednesday, he defended the ban, which was announced last week, calling the province a “tinder box” that has not seen any rain since June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I get that people want to go for a hike or want to go for a walk in the woods with their dog,” Houston said during a wildfire update with officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“But how would you like to be stuck in the woods while there’s a fire burning around you?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the restrictions will be loosened once enough rain falls to mitigate the risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“In the meantime go to the beach,” he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Houston confirmed that 12 people have been fined so far for violating the ban.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It’s certainly my hope that every single one of those is fully prosecuted and collected,” said the premier. “It’s just too serious of a situation by now.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of those penalised is military veteran Jeff Evely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Friday, Mr Evely posted a video on Facebook of himself going to a Department of Natural Resources office saying he wanted to challenge the ban in court, and “the only way for me to do that is to get the fine”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’m not trying to make trouble for you guys,” Mr Evely, who ran as a candidate for the People’s Party of Canada in April’s federal election, is heard telling an official.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He is later seen walking into the woods, before going back to the office where he is fined C$28,872.50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Others defend the restrictions as a needed precaution since the province has seen two fires a day for the last week on average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stephen Maher, a political journalist who lives in rural Nova Scotia, argued in an opinion piece<\/a> for the Globe and Mail newspaper that there is little chance his run in the woods would have sparked a fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He added, “but fires are mostly caused by dimwitted and careless people, and there is no way of separating them from their careful neighbours, so the ban is necessary”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n