In times of potential crisis, finding the balance between individual rights and what’s best for the group is a difficult task, but that doesn’t mean something sinister is taking place.
Amid a dearth of rain and escalating wildfire risk, the Atlantic provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have taken some dramatic steps to mitigate potential disaster.
Both provinces have banned forest activities, meaning people who fish, camp, hike, or drive in the forest face a $25,000 fine.
The move has sparked criticism, particularly among some on the right who have denounced it in vehement tones. Talk of a ‘conspiracy’ or ‘tyrannical overreach’ has become commonplace on some corners of social media, and some have even indulged in offensive criticisms of Atlantic Canadians.
While there is a discussion to be had about whether the restrictions are appropriate, it should be noted that Nova Scotia’s Premier is a Progressive Conservative, while New Brunswick’s Premier is a Liberal, so partisan ideology is not the issue here.
And yet, some on the right have attempted to make it a partisan issue.
What happened to respecting local jurisdiction?
There was a time when conservatism was highly respectful of local jurisdiction. The idea that those closest to an issue know best how to solve it was a reason why federal government action was considered less ideal than provincial and municipal action in many circumstances. Alongside this ideological perspective came a sense of humility. Accepting that someone closer to a problem may know more about it than you requires setting aside our ego and our ideology from time to time.
But now, that sense of respect for local knowledge and humility is largely absent from portions of the right. In its place is constant outrage and anger, the desire to impose rigid ideological thinking on distant jurisdictions, contempt for those who have a different viewpoint, conspiratorial thinking, and attempts to create enemies even where none exist. That’s what we are seeing in much of the online response to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick’s fire bans.
Principled pushback
Amid the torrent of outrage, some of the most principled pushback in defence of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick’s decisions has been from prominent Atlantic Canadian conservatives. For example, Fred DeLorey, a former national campaign manager for the Conservative Party, has consistently defended the move:
“Still, the pushback came fast – from outside the Maritimes. Folks took to social media, questioning the need for such restrictions and suggesting what Nova Scotia really needed was better forest management. Some saw it as an overreaction. Others called it government overreach. And more than a few laughed it off.
Here’s the problem: Nova Scotia is built differently than the rest of the country.
Our province is 70% privately owned. We have far less Crown land – just 29%, compared to 94% in BC or 92% in Quebec. That matters. Most Nova Scotians don’t live near the woods. We live in them. Small communities are stitched right into forested areas, and we don’t have the same buffers or remote zones that larger provinces take for granted.”
DeLorey also noted that 97% of forest fires in Nova Scotia are human-caused. And given that some parts of the province have not received rain since June, the risk is immense.
Former Conservative Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister Lisa Raitt echoed DeLorey’s sentiments and noted that those most critical of the forest restrictions tend to be farthest away from where those decisions are being implemented:
Why assume the worst?
There is an almost artificial aspect to the intense online criticism of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick’s forest restrictions. For example, there was little outrage when Manitoba imposed significant restrictions earlier this year:
And it seems some are copying and pasting identical criticisms of forest restrictions, which is odd to say the least:
By assuming the worst of the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick governments (even if you disagree with their decisions, you can recognize that they are trying to address a very difficult situation), any sense of proportionality and empathy is lost, hence the unbridled anger and demonization of Atlantic Canada that we are seeing online at the present moment. This is deeply unhelpful, as it doesn’t address the actual issues and doesn’t take into account the heartfelt knowledgeable perspective of people like Fred DeLorey and Lisa Raitt.
There is no conspiracy here. This isn’t a test run for some attack on our rights and freedoms. This isn’t tyranny. Instead, it’s two provincial governments trying to prevent a disastrous situation and doing the best they can with limited options.
Spencer Fernando
Image – YouTube
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