> To Prime Tim Houston, Minister Tory Rushton, and the Government of Nova Scotia:

We, the undersigned, strongly oppose the province-wide ban on hiking, fishing, and access to wooded areas in Nova Scotia, announced on August 5, 2025.

While we fully support the need for fire bans and wildfire prevention, the criminalization of hiking and fishing even when no fire is involved is excessive, unjustified, and deeply harmful to Nova Scotians' well-being and way of life.

This order:

Bans peaceful outdoor activities like hiking and fishing on Crown land and wooded areas, even if the property owner gives permission.

Threatens individuals with $25,000 fines, even for low-risk, solo activity.

Strips away basic access to nature, which is vital for mental health, recreation, and traditional lifestyle.

Penalizes responsible citizens while doing little to deter those who cause actual fire risk.

✅ We are not asking for fire bans to be lifted.
🔥 We understand and support restrictions on open flames during drought conditions.

What we are demanding is a fair revision to this overreaching order:

1. Restore our right to hike and fish on Crown land, trails, lakes, and rivers where no fire risk is present.

2. Permit access to private wooded land with landowner permission.

3. Target enforcement at fire-related behavior, not peaceful nature use.

Nova Scotians should not face criminal-level penalties for walking in the woods or casting a line into a lake. These aren't careless acts—they're part of our identity and connection to this land.

We urge the government to protect the forests without punishing the people.

Let us hike. Let us fish. Let us live in harmony with nature, not locked out of it.