The Canadian province of Nova Scotia has implemented a strict ban on hiking, camping, fishing, and the use of vehicles in forested areas, citing concerns over wildfire risks due to dry grass conditions. Premier Tim Houston announced that trail systems through woods are off-limits, with violations subject to fines up to $25,000. This measure has drawn comparisons to COVID-era lockdowns and has been described by some legal experts as a power grab. Enforcement has included issuing fines to individuals such as Jeff Evely, a military veteran and civil liberties advocate, who was fined $28,872.50 for entering the woods. Nova Scotia is not alone in this approach; the neighboring province of New Brunswick has also banned walking in nature, imposing fines ranging from $500 to $10,000 for violations. Critics argue that these bans are inconsistent and authoritarian, especially since natural causes like lightning, which accounts for 81% of fires in Canada, remain unregulated. Some residents have defied the restrictions, overwhelming authorities' capacity to respond to all reports of violations. The Nova Scotia Nature Trust and other organizations have voiced opposition, emphasizing that such closures echo the heavy-handedness seen during the pandemic when governments defined what activities were deemed essential.