Here in Calgary, most houses of the last 50 or so years were built with a fireplace as a "feature."

Some years ago there was a campaign to stop their use, as the smoke and gases from them were distasteful and contaminated the air; this was taught to children in school, and was the subject of letters to the editor, etc.
As a result the fireplaces are either natural gas (older ones converted), or used to display something. Wood fireplaces may be used at Christmas or other times of celebration but not for heat.
In the outer suburbs, wood continues as the fuel in many of them.

Pine, spruce and other woods with high resin should not be used because deposits build up in the chimney, causing a number of fires. If these are the only woods available, chimneys must be cleaned on a regular basis. Advice from the Fire Department.

Burning of any kind of rubbish is prohibited by by-law. Outdoor picnic fires are permitted, but the same by-law prohibits burning rubbish.