New Brunswick lifts ban on walking in the woods

The New Brunswick government has lifted its two-week ban on walking in the woods, but the Nova Scotia government continues to fine people for violating its ban.

25 people charged with violating Nova Scotia's woods and fire bans | Saltwire | Francis Campbell, Halifax Chronicle-Herald:

August 27, 2025 - "The Nova Scotia government’s commitment to crack down on people who ignore proclamations to stay out of the woods is not an empty promise. A spokesperson for the Natural Resources Department says there have been 15 charges laid for violations of the provincewide ban on open fires that started on July 30 and 10 charges for violating the woods restrictions that were implemented on Aug. 5.... 

"'To date, the people charged have not yet paid the fine but they have two months to voluntarily do that,' Adele Poirier, communications director with Natural Resources, said in an emailed response.... Those charged are required either to plead guilty and pay the amount payable within two months or to notify the court of an intention to appear in provincial court and plead not guilty and have a trial. A person charged can also plead guilty and make a penalty submission in court.

"The restrictions that came into effect Aug. 5 do not permit hiking, camping, fishing and the use of vehicles in the woods. The trail systems through the woods are off limits and camping is allowed only in campgrounds. The measures are in place on provincial Crown and private land until Oct. 15 or until the exceedingly dry conditions change enough to allow them to be lifted.... Private landowners are free to use their own properties but cannot host others to use wooded areas of their properties.

"On Monday, the New Brunswick government announced that after a two-week closure due to the high risk of wildfires in that province, Crown land would reopen to the public as of 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt announced that restrictions remain on timber harvesting, which will only be allowed from 6 p.m. to noon and will be reassessed on a daily basis. The New Brunswick government reaffirmed that a provincewide ban on campfires and burning of any kind is still in place. 

"No such lifting of restrictions has been announced in Nova Scotia, where six active wildfires were burning Tuesday.... While the Nova Scotia government has signaled that the woods ban is a very serious measure not to be taken lightly, many residents have voiced their displeasure about the restrictions."
Read more: https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/35-people-charged-nova-scotias-woods-fire-ban-25-thousand-dollar-fine

Jeffrey Evely challenges sweeping travel ban in Supreme Court of Nova Scotia | Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (news release):

August 20, 2025 - "The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces that lawyers for Canadian war veteran Jeffrey Evely have filed a Notice for Judicial Review to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, challenging the province’s sweeping travel ban and Mr. Evely’s $28,872.50 fine for walking in the woods. An emergency hearing will be requested.

"Announced by Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston on August 5, the ban prohibits people from entering wooded areas for any purpose. Approximately 75 percent of the province is classified as 'woods.' The ban even applies to activities such as hiking, fishing, and walking, even though these carry no risk of starting fires. Mr. Evely is arguing that the travel ban is unreasonable and unconstitutional and violates his right to liberty and security of the person – protected by section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“'Nova Scotia’s travel ban doesn’t target risky activities, but rather treats people as the problem, and bans them from the woods for any purpose. Nova Scotia’s limit on people’s liberties under a blanket claim of ‘safety’ is not rational and has no logical limit,' said constitutional lawyer Marty Moore.

"Mr. Evely, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, connects his past service to the country to the need to resist unreasonable and unconstitutional government edicts. 'I believe that it is important to have the woods ban proclamation reviewed in light of our Charter rights because I served in Afghanistan and Iraq, so I know how hard won these freedoms really are, especially once they are lost,' he said. 'I find the cavalier attitude with which these freedoms have been impaired to be a gross indignity to our fallen soldiers, and a moral injury to those of us still here.'"
Read more: https://www.jccf.ca/jeffrey-evely-challenges-sweeping-nature-ban-in-supreme-court-of-nova-scotia/

Why he purposely entered the woods — getting a $28K fine | CBC News Nova Scotia | August 13, 2025:

SK man who set 30 fires sentenced to probation

A Saskatchewan volunteer firefighter who confessed to starting 30 hay bale fires last summer has been sentenced to 18 months probation and 200 hours community service. 

Sask. volunteer firefighter who set hay bales on fire 30 times awaits sentencing | CBC News | Hannah Spray

June 25, 2025 - "As an arsonist kept setting hay bales on fire in western Saskatchewan last summer, comments a volunteer firefighter made to his colleagues raised their suspicions. That ultimately led police to focus their attention on Logan Sieben, a 25-year-old volunteer with the Macklin Fire Department in the town, about 225 kilometres west of Saskatoon.

"At Sieben's sentencing hearing last week in Unity provincial court, Crown prosecutor Danie Cilliers described how, as the fire department attended the hay bale fires, Sieben would say things like, 'the area does not have any cameras,' or 'there are two ways in and out.' Police questioned Sieben, who initially admitted to starting three fires. Ultimately, he accepted responsibility for starting 30 fires during a one-month period from July 29 to Aug. 26, 2024, Cilliers said.

"Cilliers argued for a sentence consisting of a six-month conditional sentence order — to be served in the community — followed by 12 months probation. He cited the high number of fires and Sieben's breach of trust to the community, as a volunteer firefighter, as aggravating factors for the judge to consider. 

"Defence lawyer George Green argued for a sentence of the same length, but in the form of 18 months probation on the same terms proposed by the Crown, including community service and mental health supports.... Green cited prior cases where other offenders set fires to houses, vehicles and even a fire department, and received sentences of probation.... 

"The Crown asked the judge to impose a restitution order for $76,650, the amount associated with the Macklin Fire Department's response to the fires. However, Cilliers acknowledged he doesn't know how much of that was covered by insurance, or how many RMs or property owners have paid their bills. Green said that when the restitution amount isn't 'crystal clear,' it needs to be left to the civil courts to sort out, so a restitution order would not be appropriate here."

Read more: cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/volunteer-firefighter-arsonist-sentencing-1.7570517

Macklin Fire Department / CBC.

Saskatchewan volunteer firefighter who set 30 fires in a month sentenced for arson | CBC News | Alexander Quon:

July 22, 2025 - "A former volunteer firefighter who pleaded guilty to setting hay bales on fire in western Saskatchewan last summer has been sentenced to probation and community service. Logan Sieben was a member of the Macklin & District Fire Department, which last year responded to 20 hay bale fires from July 28 to Aug. 25.... Sieben ultimately pleaded guilty to one charge of arson causing property damage.

"On Monday, Judge Ian Mokoruk released his decision during a hearing in Unity provincial court. Sieben will serve 18 months of probation, complete 200 hours of community service in 15 months and cannot possess any fire-starting tools.

"Mokoruk declined to impose a restitution order, despite Crown attorneys arguing during sentencing submissions that Sieben should pay $76,650, or the amount associated with the department's response to the fires.

"Macklin & District Fire Department Chief Justin Bast said he was hoping for a more severe sentence. 'I don't know that jail time would would solve the problem,' said Bast over the phone on Monday. 'Maybe a little bit of some type of house arrest or something like that and the restitution with that as well.'"

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/logan-sieben-sentencing-1.7590359

2nd Canadian rights group weighs in on hiking ban

A second Canadian province has imposed a summer ban on hiking, fishing, picnicking, and dog walking in the woods on Crown land to prevent wildfires; and a second Canadian rights group has weighed in on the issue.

New Brunswick warned to lift ban on low-risk activities, such as walking, hiking, and fishing, on Crown land | Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (news release): 

August 11, 2025 - ""The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces that a legal warning letter has been sent to Premier of New Brunswick Susan Holt and Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development John Herron, urging them to reverse their province-wide ban on public access to Crown land. 

Image generated by Grok, created by xAI.

"The universal ban on access to nature across the province applies to low-risk activities such as hiking, cycling, fishing, or even walking a dog.... 

"Constitutional lawyer Allison Pejovic states that these sweeping restrictions violate Canadians’ right to liberty – protected by section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Ms. Pejovic writes that 'walking through the woods and fishing do not pose a risk of starting fires. Punishing Canadians by restricting their freedom to roam and enjoy nature is disproportionate and not rationally connected to preventing forest fires.'

"Less restrictive measures, such as banning smoking and recreational fires, increasing patrols on Crown land, and improving forest management, could address legitimate fire concerns without violating citizens’ liberty.

"The letter cautions that if the province proceeds with 'overbroad, arbitrary, and grossly disproportionate restrictions,' the province could face a legal challenge.... Ms. Pejovic remarks that 'treating people as the problem rather than targeting actions that actually create fire risks shows a serious and concerning disregard for human rights and individual liberty.'

"The letter urges the province to immediately remove the ban on harmless recreational activities on Crown land."

Read more: https://www.jccf.ca/new-brunswick-warned-to-lift-ban-on-low-risk-activities-such-as-walking-hiking-and-fishing-on-crown-land/

Nova Scotia premier bans hiking in woods

Nova Scotia premier Tim Houston has announced a province-wide ban on hiking, camping, and fishing in the woods due to an elevated risk of wildfires. 

N.S. bans hiking and use of vehicles in woods as dry conditions raise wildfire fears | CBC News:

August 05, 2025 - "The Nova Scotia government has announced it's banning hiking, camping, fishing and use of vehicles such as ATVs in the woods due to an elevated wildfire risk. Camping in campgrounds is still permitted, but trail systems through woods are off-limits under the new rules.

Nova Scotia has opened a hiking snitch line.

"The rules are in place for provincial Crown land until Oct. 15 or until weather conditions allow them to be lifted. The fine for violating the ban is $25,000. The public can still access beaches and parks, except for trail systems. 

"As hot and dry conditions in the province persist, Premier Tim Houston said at a news conference Tuesday that these proactive measures are a 'small price to pay' to avoid devastation like the province saw in 2023, when wildfires destroyed more than 200 homes....

"Landowners are being encouraged to voluntarily follow the same restrictions on their private land to minimize the risk of wildfires. While landowners will not face a fine for activities such as hiking in their own woods, any guest of theirs who is found violating the ban could be fined.... 

"Travel and activity in the woods were also banned in May 2023 while the province battled two major wildfires that destroyed hundreds of homes. The restrictions were initially put in place for about four weeks or until conditions allowed them to be lifted. The restrictions were lifted after about a week." 

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/hiking-ban-vehicles-wildfire-concerns-1.7019695

Canada's nanny state is out of control! Nova Scotia forest lockdowns banned hikes and picnics | Canadian Constitution Federation | August 7, 2025:

CCF Warns Premier Houston: Hiking Ban Threatens Freedoms, Petition Demands Repeal | Canadian Constitution Federation (news release):

August 7, 2025 - "The CCF [Canadian Constitution Federation] has formally sent a letter to Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and National Resources Minister Tory Rushton urging the provincial government to reconsider the recently announced restrictions on hiking, birdwatching, fishing, picnicking and other outdoor activities in the province’s forests. Citing wildfire risks amid dry conditions, the ban was announced and came into effect Tuesday, August 5.

"While the CCF recognizes the importance of wildfire prevention and supports targeted safety measures, this sweeping ban unnecessarily and disproportionately restricts responsible outdoor recreation that has zero fire risk. The ban negatively impacts the well-being of Nova Scotians. The full letter can be read here.

"'The Nova Scotia government is threatening ordinary citizens with $25,000 fines for hiking, even though this poses virtually no threat of starting a fire,' said CCF Counsel Josh Dehaas. 'We are calling on the government to rescind these draconian measures and let Nova Scotians safely enjoy their world-famous forests for the remainder of the summer and beyond.'

"'When safety becomes a weapon, everyone loses,' said CCF Litigation Director Christine Van Geyn. 'Nova Scotia’s forest ban is overkill and it’s deja vu. It’s happening now because the government got away with it last time. This is a classic example of safetyism: a mentality where risk becomes an excuse for control, not communication. Once the government sees that overreach is workable, it’s replayed every few years.'

"The CCF is now circulating a public petition calling on the government to immediately rescind the ban and restore access to the province’s forests. If the restrictions are not lifted, the CCF may take legal action."

https://theccf.ca/ccf-warns-premier-houston-hiking-ban-threatens-freedoms-petition-demands-repeal/

Read letter: https://theccf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025.08.06-CCF-letter-to-Houston-and-Rushton.pdf

Sign petition: https://theccf.ca/restore-access-to-ns-forests/

Parks Canada denied firefighters entry to Jasper

A parliamentary committee was told this week that private firefighters who had driven to Jasper National Park to fight the July wildfire were turned away by Parks Canada.

Properties engulfed in fire in Jasper, July 27, 2024. Radio Canada.

Parks Canada firefighting coordination decisions 'need to be made a lot quicker': fire services contractor | CTV News | Jeremy Thompson & Craig Ellingson:

October 8, 2024 - "A private firefighting service provider says crews contracted to work to protect buildings in and around the town of Jasper during July's wildfire emergency were denied entry to the national park for most of a day. Kris Liivam, the president of Arctic Fire Safety Services, says unclear communication from emergency managers hampered efforts by his crews, who thought they had written permission to enter the national park on July 25, the day after a powerful wildfire destroyed a third of the townsite but with the fire risk still high despite heavy rain.

"At the time, a small Arctic Fire Safety Services crew was already in Jasper, under contract to provincial Alberta Wildfire, working to protect the town. Meanwhile, in Hinton, more of Liivan's team was trying to enter the park -- more than a dozen trucks and about 50 firefighters who had been hired to protect specific properties including Marmot Basin, the Jasper Sky Tram and several hotels.

"'We thought we had everything in place, for permission to go in,' Liivan told CTV News Edmonton on Tuesday. 'Once we got to the first RCMP stop, we were denied entry and we had to turn around and head back to Hinton.'

"Liivam recently voiced his frustrations to a parliamentary committee looking into the Jasper wildfire, telling it his crews 'encountered numerous examples of Parks Canada fire management actively obstructing our activities and not providing us with relevant information on the fire.'

"A Parks Canada spokesperson says ... [that] 'they were eventually allowed in with specific instructions, and helped to fight the fire, which could have had far worse consequences without this swift and effective handling.'"

Read more: https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/parks-canada-firefighting-coordination-decisions-need-to-be-made-a-lot-quicker-fire-services-contractor-1.7067145

Shocking new Jasper wildfire revelations put blame on Parks Canada | True North | October 10, 2024:

How the tragic Jasper wildfire turned into just another political weapon | Calgary Herald | Don Braid: 

October 8, 2024 - "The great Jasper wildfire of July and August simmers on.... Over two weeks, MPs have been sniping at each other in meetings of a parliamentary committee on environment and sustainable development....

"Throughout, federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault [has] claimed that Ottawa could not have done better either before or during the fire. At any suggestion that Ottawa was lacking, he trotted out climate change as the true culprit. It was clear more than once that a big ugly fire in Alberta is a great boost for his climate agenda. Focusing on climate also turned minds away from serious questions about Ottawa’s performance as the power in charge of both prevention and firefighting. 

"For instance, why was a convoy of firefighters with 20 trucks turned away from the park gate like tourists who can’t afford a pass? That actually happened. Private firefighter Kristopher Liivam testified that his crew wasn’t there on spec. There had been discussions with officials. They clearly understood they would be admitted. But Parks Canada turned firefighters away from a fire. That was three days after the fire began, just as things were getting really dangerous.

"Alberta deputy premier Mike Ellis, who spoke to the hearing, said in an interview Tuesday that he was 'very concerned' to hear about the episode. 'Certainly, our position would be that we wouldn’t be turning away anybody' if Alberta had been part of joint command.... Denied any authority, Alberta needed federal permission to bring in helicopters, water bombers, surveillance drones, bulldozers and other equipment. The refusal to grant joint command was both bizarre and churlish."

Read more: https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/braid-jasper-wildfire-political-weapon

Can we learn from the burning of Jasper?

Canadians are mourning the destruction by fire of Jasper, Alberta. But we also need a serious reappraisal of Canadian forest management practices; otherwise it won't be a matter of whether more communities are lost to wildfires, but of when.  

Governments Must Act Now on Proper Forest Management or Wildfires Will Get Worse | Epoch Times | Cory Morgan:

July 26, 2024 - "Millions of Albertans, and indeed Canadians, are mourning the destruction of a site where they have memories of recent and childhood trips. We can be thankful that no lives have been lost, but the loss for residents of Jasper is unimaginable.... When the Jasper fires have been extinguished and the rebuilding process begins, we must have a serious appraisal of our forest management practices and act as soon as possible. Otherwise, it won’t be a matter of if another community is lost to a wildfire, it will be a matter of when.

"To begin with, it must be accepted that fires in boreal forests are natural and inevitable. It has only been in the last couple of centuries that humans have entered the scene and meddled with the natural cycle of burning and rejuvenation of forests. What we are seeing today is the consequences of deferring the fires that would have naturally burned. The forests have become overgrown, unhealthy, and cluttered with layers of extremely flammable deadfall. Forests in that condition burn hot and fast, leading to fires that can’t be extinguished. Many communities in Canada are surrounded by forests like this and are but one spark away from a disaster.

"It’s not reasonable to just let fires burn naturally in populated areas. That means we must manage these forests and our communities to reduce the chances of wildfires and mitigate the damage they cause. This has been done to a degree in areas, but not adequately.

"Jasper is a prime example. A mountain pine beetle infestation had previously killed thousands of acres of pine trees around the "townsite. Standing dead pine trees are extremely flammable, and experts were warning of the risk they presented to Jasper in 2018. A plan was formulated between the Alberta Forest Service and Jasper National Park officials to manage the forests, but it was rejected by the federal government. It’s not that the federal government wanted to see the area burn. They didn’t want to deal with the optics of bulldozers and loggers taking down tracts of forest in a scenic national park along with the haze and smoke prescribed burns would bring. The consequences of that deferral are being seen today.

"Municipal governments are loath to create buffers between forests and their townsites because residents enjoy the cozy feel of living next to the wilderness. Developers pitch communities that share space with nature and property owners will complain if bush is cut back. Cutting buffers in forests, doing prescribed burns, and clearcut logging may not look pretty, but it is all preferable to the devastation a fire will bring. Politicians must make the tough choices and impose fire mitigation measures upon communities, even if it upsets some residents....

"I worked as a surveyor for over 20 years in Alberta, and what I saw building up on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains was concerning, to say the least. In some areas, it is almost impossible to walk due to the volume of deadfall. If we don’t clear those zones out soon, a fire will and it will be a big one.

"Government jurisdiction and long-term changes in the climate are subjects worthy of discussion, and we doubtless will be having those discussions for years. In the meantime, we must act and safeguard our communities. We don’t have years to wait, and we will see more heartbreaking losses as we have with Jasper if we keep putting off the forest management that must happen."

Read more: https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/cory-morgan-governments-must-act-now-on-proper-forest-management-or-wildfires-will-get-worse-5694312

Jasper wildfire: Examining the damage and promises to rebuild | CBC News: The National | July 26, 2024:

Quebec man started 14 forest fires in 2023

A Quebec man has pleaded guilty to starting 14 forest fires in the province during last year's wildfire season.

Quebec man pleads guilty to 14 counts of arson during wildfire season | True North | Isaac Lamoureux:

January 17, 2024 - "A Quebec man has pleaded guilty to starting 14 fires during Canada’s wildfire season this past summer. 38-year-old Brian Paré has pleaded guilty to 13 counts of arson and one count of arson with disregard for human life. The fires took place between May 29 and September 5, 2023. 

"Prosecutor Marie-Philippe Charron informed the court that out of the 14 fires ignited by Paré, two led to the evacuation of approximately 500 homes in Chapais, Quebec, a small community situated about 425 kilometres northwest of Quebec City, according to the Canadian Press. Chibougamau ... a small town ... was also affected.... The fires caused all 7,500 residents to be displaced from their homes....

"Paré posted videos of fires on his Facebook page, which still remain up. The Quebec man claimed that the fires were intentionally started by the Canadian government and other 'elites' to progress their 2030 agenda.... 

"According to CBC, 700 forest fires burned over 4.5 million hectares of Quebec forest over the summer, 99.9% of which were sparked by lightning. However, recent data from the National Forestry Database shows that in 2020, roughly 10% of fires were sparked by lightning. Further, more recent data from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre shows that in 2022, among Quebec’s 449 fires, 39 were natural (8.7%), while 410 were human-caused. 

"According to a spokesperson for the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu, responsible for forest fires in the province, human activity was to blame for roughly 80% of fires in Quebec

"According to the National Forestry Database, the number of fires and total area (in millions of hectares) burned in Canada are lower than in 1980 – the furthest the data goes back.

"During the wildfire season, politicians and the media blamed the fires on climate change, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister of Energy Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment Steven Guilbeault, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, and Senator Chuck Schumer, each blaming Canadian fires on climate change. CTV and the Washington Post both published articles attributing fires to climate change despite their cause not being known at the time."

Read more: https://tnc.news/2024/01/17/quebec-man-pleads-guilty-14-counts-arson/

Arsonists set Canada on fire. NOT Climate Change | True North | January 22, 2024:

Quebec police suspect arson behind forest fires

Quebec police suspect that at least some of the many forest fires raging throughout the province were the result of arson.

Cops suspect arson caused wildfire in at least one part of Quebec | Toronto Sun - Joe Warmington:

June 7, 2023 - "The Toronto Sun has learned Quebec police are investigating the possibility that the smoke creating poor air quality in southern Ontario and making downtown skylines disappear may have been the result of arson. 'There is an investigation because the cause is suspect,' said Surete de Quebec media officer Hugues Beaulieu.

"This narrative has not made [,,] many headlines — and is polar opposite to what the likes of U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Environment Minister Steven Guibeault have been saying.

The ongoing wildfires remind us that carbon pollution carries a cost on our society, as it accelerates climate change.
Good read exploring the concept of that social cost of carbon. https://t.co/IQpgP2HYyg
— Steven Guilbeault (@s_guilbeault) June 7, 2023

"They are blaming the wildfires on 'climate change' and on the 'climate crisis.'

Between NYC in wildfire smoke and this in PR, it bears repeating how unprepared we are for the climate crisis.
We must adapt our food systems, energy grids, infrastructure, healthcare, etc ASAP to prepare for what’s to come and catch up to what is already here. #GreenNewDeal 🌱 https://t.co/GT7hY4Ffm3
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 7, 2023

"Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s close friend and former principal secretary, Gerald Butts, also tweeted: 'The fires are worse because of the conditions in the forest. The conditions are caused by climate change'....

These Canadian wildfires are truly unprecedented, and climate change continues to make these disasters worse.
We passed the Inflation Reduction Act to fight climate change, and we must do more to speed our transition to cleaner energy and reduce carbon in the atmosphere.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 7, 2023

"And Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner tweeted that despite 'wildfires raging' the 'premier still won’t make the connection to climate change'....

"The actual cause is yet to be determined. We do know, however, that previous forest fires in places like Fort McMuray or in Nova Scotia are suspected to be caused by humans.... [F]oul play is not suspected in all of Quebec’s fires. But the ones which began in the small village of Chapais — in the northeast section of the province — are being probed.

"'It is suspicious,' said one business owner there. 'It is believed that some of these fires here were deliberately set'....[A] temporary trailer set up as a police command post is staffed with experienced arson investigators....

"'As we speak, we think that certain elements that stand out may suggest that these fires may be linked. There are a few things that seem suspicious,' Mayor Isabelle Lessard told the local le Quotidien newspaper. 'The SQ is investigating in order to make validations, then to see what is happening and if there is a criminal cause behind it, but we are still in validation.'

"While police have been told of unexplainable movements of people in the town, police stress the need for everyone to be patient. 'We are still investigating,” said Beaulieu. 'There are no results.' Part of the challenge, he said, is so many other sections of the province ignited at the same time. Beaulieu said while 'it’s a hard investigation to do, we will do it.'

"At this point, it’s too early to say the early fires in Quebec were started on purpose or as a result of climate change. But we can say Quebec provincial police are on the case."

Read more: https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-cops-suspect-arson-caused-wildfire-in-at-least-one-part-of-quebec

Quebec confronted with more than 150 wildfires | 'A situation that's unprecedented' | CTV News | June 7, 2023: 

Why are Canada's forests burning?

Smoky New York isn’t climate change — it’s bad forest management | New York Post - Miranda Devine:

June 7, 2023 - "Canadian wildfire smoke currently turning the [New York City] sky orange is taking our tolerance to new levels. By Wednesday we were registering the wors[t] air pollution of any major city in the world and COVID mask maniacs were back in their element. But don’t fall for the propaganda that climate change is to blame.

"The situation in Canada is similar to that in Australia, where green ideology and chronic government underfunding mean that the forests currently ablaze have not been managed properly for years. Instead of dead wood and undergrowth being removed regularly using low-intensity controlled or 'prescribed' burns, forests have become overgrown tinderboxes. Fire trails that used to allow first responders easy access to the forest have closed over as vast tracts of land are locked away from humans. Logging and other commercial practices that used to self-interestedly tend to forest health have been phased out. 

"Back in 2016 when Parks Canada had planned just 12 prescribed burns for the year, Mark Heathcott, the agency’s retired fire management coordinator of 23 years, warned about the importance of the practice to prevent future wildfires. 

"In 2020, a paper in the journal Progress in Disaster Science warned: 'Wildfire management agencies in Canada are at a tipping point. Presuppression and suppression costs are increasing but program budgets are not.'

"Canadian indigenous groups also have complained that bureaucratic obstacles hinder their ability to perform the controlled burns they have used for centuries to reduce fuel load, flush out food and regenerate forests.

"[G]reen activists using illogical emotional arguments about wildlife habitats have caused governments to underfund and curtail the scientific use of prescribed burning to mitigate wildfire risk. The ensuing incineration of forests and critters by super-hot runaway wildfires is infinitely worse for wildlife habitats. 

"But for climate alarmists, the assault on New Yorkers' air quality is a positive outcome that they can spin to prove their case. They’re like the arsonist who sets fire to a building and then profits from the clean-up."

Read more: https://nypost.com/2023/06/07/smoky-new-york-isnt-climate-change-its-bad-forest-management/

Over 400 wildfires burning across Canada, half out of control | CBC News: The National | June 8, 2023: