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John Carpay: Orwellian Nova Scotia woods ban struck down on Charter's anniversary

Judge strikes down ban as unreasonable for failing to consider mobility rights, delivering a victory for freedom and common sense

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On the 44th anniversary of the Charter, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court vindicated Jeffrey Evely, who asserted his Charter right to move freely in the woods of Nova Scotia. The government had prohibited all activities — including hiking, picnicking, fishing, swimming, camping, and birdwatching — in a near-province-wide ban in August 2025, on the pretext of preventing forest fires.

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Retired master warrant officer Jeffrey Evely, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, received a $28,872.50 fine (including taxes, fees, and surcharges) for simply walking in the woods. He filed a Charter challenge to the government’s irrational and draconian ban, receiving a favourable ruling on April 17, 2026.

John Carpay: Orwellian Nova Scotia woods ban struck down on Charter's anniversary Back to video

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