[passing_by_and]

The land is owned by the crown. In private hands it would be used productively. It has nothing to do with "misery or impossibility."

[Tiktaalik]

A great many people tried to use crown land in the past and gave up because it was useless bog too remote and not worth it. See: Haida Gwaii Naikoon. Cape Scott colony, and more.

When folks don't live somewhere, there's usually a reason, and it's usually "the land is terrible" not the government is forcing people to not use it.