Nova Scotia provincial parks closing over wildfire concerns, premier states
With a burn-ban already in place, officials said Tuesday they're shuttering parks as of 4 p.m. to protect the public.
'We are telling Nova Scotians to stay out of the woods,' said Premier Tim Houston during a press conference.
The provincial parks ban restricts the public from unnecessary travel into the forests and partake in activities including hiking, camping, fishing and the use of wood.
The public will also not be allowed to use vehicles in the woods or access trail systems.
While camping is allowed, it is only permitted in official campgrounds.
Story continues below advertisement
Private landowners are free to use their own properties but cannot host other guests to use the wooded areas of their properties, the government said.
The restrictions will remain in place till Oct. 15 or until conditions allow them to be lifted.
2:05
Nova Scotian who lost home in wildfire calling for financial relief
The fine for breaking the rules will result in a $25,000 fine – the same amount as the burn ban penalty, which was put in place last Wednesday.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
The burn ban applies to open fires such as campfires, bonfires, brush fires and fires in chimeneas, as well as any other fire that is not enclosed and uses wood as a fuel.
Non-wood burning devices, such as charcoal, gas barbeques and gas stoves are allowed to be used. The ban also overrides any permits that have been issued for industrial burning.
Story continues below advertisement
'I'm losing sleep'
To date, seven fines have already been issued to individuals for breaking the burn ban.
'I'm losing sleep about what's happening … as a society we must do everything possible to protect each other,' Houston said.
'The risk is very high right now.'
2:01
1 year after worst wildfire in Nova Scotia history, community thanks heroic firefighters who responded to the call
Tory Rushton, minister of natural resources, said these steps are necessary to protect the firefighters as well.
Story continues below advertisement
Rural fire departments have raised concerns over the recent dry spell, as their worries grow about low water levels and their ability to respond to emergencies, Rushton explained.
'We've had a lot of hot, dry weather, very little rain and there's no significant rain in the forecast in the near future,' he said.
For those conducting silviculture or forestry activities on their land, Rushton is urging a transition to nighttime operations to reduce the risk of wildfires.
'We are encouraging contractors and homeowners to shift their operations to nighttime hours, we have already seen some contractors make the change,' Rushton added.
While the restriction is in place, people can still access beaches and parks.
— with files from Rebecca Lau
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
6 hours ago
- Global News
Record number of people leaving B.C., mostly for Alberta and Ontario
B.C. has historically been a place many move to for employment opportunities and an active lifestyle, but that appears to no longer be the case. Economic perspectives from the Business Council of British Columbia, which tracked interprovincial migration, found that out-migration of B.C. residents to other provinces surged to almost 70,000 people over the last few years. The business council said this was a record level — by comparison, the next closest peaks in out-migration were 64,000 in 1998 and 65,000 in 1975. Meanwhile, the report found that people moving to B.C. from across Canada dropped to around 55,0000, which is below the long-term average of around 62,000. 'What we heard repeatedly is people who are leaving are leaving by necessity and not by choice,' Braden McMillan with the Business Council of B.C. said. Story continues below advertisement 'We heard that across the province, people were not just sending us snippets, they were sending full essays.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Of the more than 3,000 respondents to the business council, 36 per cent of respondents pointed directly at housing. Twenty-eight per cent blamed taxes and regulations for leaving B.C. and 23 per cent expressed concerns about jobs and wages, while 18 per cent pointed to a lack of public services. 1:57 'Stay with BC' campaign aims at keeping young people in province 'When other provinces like Alberta or Washington are rolling out the red carpet, we cannot be rolling out the red tape. We need to be focused on the economy,' McMillan said. Gavin Dew, the B.C. Conservative economic development critic said these numbers are concerning because B.C. is losing the next generation of people who can't see a future in the province. Story continues below advertisement The majority of people who left B.C. went to either Alberta or Ontario, with two-thirds of those leaving being under the age of 40. The provincial government says they are attempting to put in place conditions that make staying in B.C. worthwhile. 'I can't speak to the individual decisions of British Columbians but what I can say (is) we are tackling issues like cost of living,' B.C.'s deputy Premier Niki Sharma said.
Global News
8 hours ago
- Global News
Trump threatens 100% tariff on semiconductors, chips coming into U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he will impose a 100% tariff on computer chips, likely raising the cost of electronics, autos, household appliances and other goods deemed essential for the digital age. 'We'll be putting a tariff of approximately 100% on chips and semiconductors,' Trump said in the Oval Office while meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook. 'But if you're building in the United States of America, there's no charge.' The Republican president said companies that make computer chips in the U.S. would be spared the import tax. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a shortage of computer chips increased the price of autos and contributed to an overall uptick in inflation. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Inquiries sent to chip makers Nvidia and Intel were not immediately answered. Demand for computer chips has been climbing worldwide, with sales increasing 19.6% in the year-ended in June, according to the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics organization. Story continues below advertisement Trump's tariff threats mark a significant break from existing plans to revive computer chip production in the United States. He is choosing an approach that favors the proverbial stick over carrots in order to incentivize more production. Essentially, the president is betting that higher chip costs would force most companies to open factories domestically, despite the risk that tariffs could squeeze corporate profits and push up prices for mobile phones, TVs and refrigerators. By contrast, the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act signed into law in 2022 by then-President Joe Biden provided more than $50 billion to support new computer chip plants, fund research and train workers for the industry. The mix of funding support, tax credits and other financial incentives were meant to draw in private investment, a strategy that Trump has vocally opposed.
CTV News
8 hours ago
- CTV News
Woods ban draws mixed reaction, N.S. premier asks residents to work with the government
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
