Tim Houston, Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservative premier, isn’t exactly the first name that comes to mind when you think of freedom-hating climate-driven radicals. But that’s the argument that’s being made in some quarters of Canadian society in response to his government's decision to ban people from the province’s tinder-dry forests in an effort to avoid sparking dangerous and deadly wildfires. “We are telling Nova Scotians to stay out of the woods,” he said. 

The province-wide ban restricts the public from traveling into the forests or engaging in activities like hiking, camping, fishing, and the use of wood. “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 told CTV Atlantic’s Jesse Thomas in an interview. “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.”

Given the already dangerous conditions, the complete absence of meaningful rainfall in the forecast, and the high likelihood of recreational activities sparking new fires, the ban seems like a reasonable precaution meant to protect public safety and private property. It’s also another litmus test for our willingness to make sacrifices, work towards a common cause,........

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