Kulturkampf

[Ethan]

Meanwhile in New Brunswick. No fines, but don't walk in the woods because forest fires you could break your leg and we've understaffed the healthcare system while we skyrocketed immigration.

I'm not understanding how walking "just nearby" or in private woods would avoid the issue?

Also, they have a lot of fishing boats capsizing up there?

A lawyer in the government probably told them a blanket ban would be overturned by the Courts because it's akin to banning cars to prevent traffic fatalities, so instead of backtracking and imposing hefty fines for smoking or starting camp fires, or closing areas that are currently impacted or at high risk, so a balanced approach, they're retconning and coming up with a whole new explanation for the blanket ban that might be more palatable for a judge, but not really. It's also the reason that was used mostly successfully (until it didn't) during Covid (we can't overwhelm the healthcare system/first responders).

The worst thing is that it's actually well-intentioned, but it will just fuel the right-wing populist outrage all over, just because they couldn't think for more than 5 minutes.

edit: Nevermind, it's NB, not NS, though I expect the later to follow suit.