Wildfires: Penalties for violating fire bans soar up to $150,000 in Newfoundland
As some of eastern Newfoundland’s tinder-dry forests continued to burn out of control on Friday, the provincial government exponentially increased its fines for those caught lighting illegal fires.
A visibly angry Premier John Hogan said the fine for a first offence would rise from $75 to $50,000, with potential imprisonment of up to six months for those failing to pay the penalty.
“Despite the serious nature of what’s happening, we are continuing to see reports of people setting fires and, in some cases, setting fires intentionally,” Hogan told a news conference. “It’s very clear from the size of the (fine) increase … that we mean business.”
The fine for a second offence has jumped from $150 to $75,000. And a third violation will cost offenders a whopping $150,000, with up to one year in jail if not paid.
Reminder — Nova Scotia implemented an increase in fire fines BEFORE they imposed climate lockdown ban on all forests………
But I’ll betcha dollars to donuts that if it’s a First Nations person, all fines will be waived. And all the white liberal women will approve, saying bullshit like “ohhhh, he couldn’t help it that he’s an arsonist”.
New Brunswick just joined in to the lockouts