This article was written by Daniel Barker and originally published at Natural News

In a blatant attack on those who prefer living as self-sufficiently as possible, citizens of Montreal have been ordered to first register their wood-burning stoves, and then ultimately get rid of them within three years, unless they meet rigid air quality standards.

The deadline to register wood-burning stoves and fireplaces in Montreal was December 22, 2015, and the new emissions regulations will be implemented in 2018. Those who refuse to comply will be subject to fines, and those who are willing to adjust will be forced to pay for expensive modifications to their wood-burning stoves and fireplaces.

From the National Post.com:

“Starting in 2018, wood-burning appliances will be banned unless they meet the rigorous new emission standards of 2.5 grams of fine particles or less per hour. The bylaw is among the strictest in North America, said Real Menard, the city’s executive committee responsible for the environment. Presently, transforming a stove or fireplace with inserts so that it is in compliance with the coming regulations costs between $2,000 and $8,000.”

Many outraged Montreal citizens have left comments on news articles and social media platforms regarding the new regulations, voicing the fact that they see the new standards for exactly what they are: an attempt to demonize those who prefer to avoid dependence on the grid for their heating and cooking needs.

One such comment on the National Post story was submitted by a man named Tristan Verboven, who hit the proverbial nail on the head:

“After thousands of years relying on fire as a source of heat, suddenly humans have discovered fire is so dangerous that we must use the power provided by a government monopoly instead. Yet somehow vehicle and industrial emissions are not worth eliminating. Thats [sic] would be way more complicated than inspecting people’s private homes to enforce a law everyone knows is a racket.”