Nova Scotia’s woods ban prompts mixed reaction, COVID-19 flashbacks

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N.S. ban on entering woods draws mixed reactions

First at Five: Change of Plans

Nova Scotia’s provincewide woods ban has prompted a mix response – understanding, fear, confusion, and even flashbacks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jamie Lee Arseneau, the owner of LaHave River Campground in Barss Corner, N.S., says she was surprised to hear of Tuesday’s woods ban.

“We haven’t seen far-reaching government control like that since COVID times. So, it just takes you back to those initial feelings of sort of shock,” she said.

“I wouldn’t say it’s an overreach, because I do understand the need for extreme caution with lack of resources to attend to emergencies in this climate. I think we were just surprised at the lack of connections to fires in woods to now have the woods specifically be restricted in a province that’s fuelled on tourism, to be honest.”

‘Extremely dry conditions’

In a Wednesday interview with CTV Atlantic’s Jesse Thomas, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston called the restrictions a difficult decision.

“I’m a Nova Scotian, too. I love to be outside all year-round, but certainly in the summertime… But across the country there are over 750 fires burning in Canada. There are all kinds of evacuations, destruction of personal property, people losing their homes. Not too long ago, just two years ago, in this province we had severe damage and incredible loss of property,” said Houston.

“We’re looking at the extremely dry conditions that we have here and the environmental forecast, there is no rain in sight, no significant rain in sight, and listening to the experts.”

Houston says experts are warning the risk of wildfires is very high and it will increase.

“We’re taking the preventative measures now. We could take these steps while we’re fighting fires, while we’re dealing with disaster, or we could try and get in front of it,” he said.

“We’re asking Nova Scotians to understand the risk and work with us as we try and stay in front of it and try to protect lives and try to protect property and try to protect what we have here in this province.”

Constitutional powers

As far as what the government can and can’t do, law professor Wayne MacKay says it comes down to the constitution.

“From a constitutional powers point of view, clearly this is a matter that falls within provincial jurisdiction, and you can do it, so long as it isn’t done in a way that violates the Charter of Rights,” he said.

“Like all constitutional rights, that’s subject to reasonable limits, and the reasonable limit that of course is rightly going to be put forward is the very significant risk of forest fires.”

MacKay says while the risk is not as severe as during the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of a wildfire is “very significant.”

“So, the only real question that I think arises is, how are you doing it (placing restrictions)? Are you doing it in a way that respects fair process and respects the rights of people to understand what the laws and restrictions are?” he said.

$25,000 fine

The province warned Tuesday that those who violate the restrictions will face a fine of $25,000.

“It is, I think, a very significant fine… but it probably is the kind of magnitude that you need to get the people to really pay attention to it. So, in that sense, I think it can be defended but it makes it even more important that it be done in the right way,” said MacKay.

“The rules are there, the fine is big, but is it going to be enforced and how is it going to be enforced?”

‘Consider supporting a local business’

As a small business owner working in the tourism sector, Arseneau says these types of restrictions can be anxiety inducing for their guests.

“It’s just response to a lot of questions, having to have hard conversations when people who so connect campfires with camping now can’t do that, many of whom are upset or would cancel their reservation based on that. So, we have been seeing an influx of cancellations, unfortunately,” she said.

“I think where the anxiety comes in as a business owner is just what is next? For now, official campgrounds are allowed to operate, but I also note that we’re listed there, and next time we could be listed in a different way, so it is very concerning.”

Arseneau believes the new restrictions were relatively clear, but adds they lacked some details.

“Businesses like us will filter through a lot of questions with our customers and lack of that, so we have a lot of questions,” she said.

“When it comes to what people are allowed to do, that is to go camping, just at campgrounds, so please consider supporting a local business.”

Cancellations

Capes 100, a running race that was scheduled to take place this weekend in Mabou, N.S., has been cancelled due to the restrictions.

“(It was a) stressed out and nauseous feeling, and then once they gave the word it was just heartbreaking,” said Jodi Isenor, race director for Capes 100.

The event had been sold out for nearly a year and, according to Isenor, the cancellation means 250 runners and 50 volunteers will now have to change their weekend plans.

“With accommodations and food and everything else, you could safely say there is 350 to 400 extra people in Mabou and Inverness area for this event,” he said.

“So, it’s not just sad for us, it’s sad for those communities as well.”

On the other side of Cape Breton Island, in Port Morien, N.S., the annual Morien Memories summer festival comes to an end this weekend. While other scheduled activities are still a go, organizers say there will no longer be closing fireworks.

“We had a designated expert who was going to set off the fireworks, but after he consulted with the Department of Natural Resources and (Cape Breton Regional Municipality) Fire it was a no-brainer that it had to be cancelled,” said Beverley Spencer, Morien Memories committee chair.

CTV Atlantic also spoke with one of the organizers of Wi’kipaltimk 2025 – a three-day Mi’kmaq cultural event and powwow scheduled for Aug. 8-10.

They said the decision was made on Wednesday to cancel the event’s fireworks finale on Sunday evening, though most other activities on the calendar are expected to go ahead as scheduled.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Callum Smith and Ryan MacDonald.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page