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Liberty on fire in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

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4 minute read

Venture onto any Crown land in New Brunswick and you could be fined up to $172.50. Venture into any wooded area in Nova Scotia and you could be fined up to $25,000.

This is now the reality for Canadians in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Canadians are already being fined.

On August 8, Jeffrey Evely, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran who served Canada in two tours to Afghanistan and Iran, walked into the woods near Cox Reef, Nova Scotia.

Conservation officers promptly issued him a ticket for $28,872.50.

When he asked why his ticket exceeded $25,000, the officers told him that his fine included “victim fees.”

Help us defend Jeff Evely
The problem started on August 5, when Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston announced a total ban on hiking, fishing, and camping in all wooded areas across the province, claiming this was necessary due to an elevated risk of wildfires, with fines up to $25,000 for disobeying his order.

Five days later, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt banned all access to Crown land, making it illegal for citizens to step foot on 50 percent of their own province.

Jeff Evely fined on August 8, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Jeff Evely)
These restrictions are irrational and entirely unjustified violations of our basic freedom. Banning harmless activities on public land violates Canadians’ right to liberty – protected by section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

After all, how exactly do hiking, fishing, or walking the dog cause wildfires?

This is a question that Premier Houston’s officials will be asked in court when Jeff’s case goes to trial. Our lawyers will defend Jeff against this $28,872.50 prosecution by arguing that Nova Scotia’s order is irrational, unscientific and unjustified.

As constitutional lawyer Allison Pejovic put it in her demand letter to New Brunswick, “Punishing Canadians by restricting their freedom to roam and enjoy nature is disproportional and not rationally connected to preventing forest fires.

Governments can create and enforce rules to protect forests, like banning campfires, smoking, and cooking in the woods. Legitimate rules like these do not violate the basic freedom of Canadians to enjoy the great outdoors.

Help us challenge these restrictions
What you can do
Share this story with your friends and family. The free society depends on an engaged and active citizenry.

Please support Jeff’s defence by donating to the Justice Centre today. Our lawyers are on the case, seeking to strike down New Brunswick’s and Nova Scotia’s unjustified assault on liberty.

We must remain vigilant. Some politicians will use any excuse to violate our rights and freedoms, even preventing Canadians from using the public lands that are so vital to their physical and mental wellbeing.

Our Charter rights and freedoms must never disappear from view, especially during challenging times. It’s up to us to remind governments when they forget.

Yours sincerely,

John Carpay, B.A., LL.B.

President and Founder

Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms

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Freedom Convoy

Three years after TD Bank froze his bank accounts, peaceful protestor Evan Blackman faces retrial

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Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces that the retrial of peaceful protestor Evan Blackman is set to begin on Thursday, August 14, 2025, in the Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa. When Mr. Blackman was first charged with mischief and obstruction for his participation in the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests, Toronto-Dominion Bank froze several of his bank accounts, sparking a national debate about government overreach.

Mr. Blackman was acquitted of all charges in October 2023, but the Crown appealed that decision.

If Mr. Blackman is convicted at his second trial, his lawyer will ask the court to stay all proceedings against him as a remedy for the freezing of his bank accounts.

The judge hearing Mr. Blackman’s retrial has already compelled TD Bank and the RCMP to hand over records about the bank account freezes. “The freezing of Mr. Blackman’s bank accounts was an extreme overreach on the part of the police and the federal government,” says constitutional lawyer Chris Fleury.

“These records will hopefully reveal exactly how and why Mr. Blackman’s accounts were frozen,” he says.

Further information about these records may be revealed, if necessary, at another hearing scheduled for Thursday, August 21, 2025.

Video evidence from the original trial shows Mr. Blackman acting as a peacemaker during the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests, at one point even holding back other protesters to prevent confrontation with police, kneeling in front of officers for several minutes, removing his hat, placing his hands on his chest, and singing “O Canada” shortly before his arrest.

Constitutional lawyer Chris Fleury said, “After being acquitted on all charges following his first trial, and being called a peacemaker by the judge, Mr. Blackman has endured another two years of legal uncertainty.”

“Mr. Blackman is hopeful that he will once again be acquitted, and this matter will finally end,” he added.

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ESG

New Brunswick warned to lift ban on low-risk activities, such as walking, hiking, and fishing, on Crown land

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Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces that a legal warning letter has been sent to Premier of New Brunswick Susan Holt and Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development John Herron, urging them to reverse their province-wide ban on public access to Crown land.

The universal ban on access to nature across the province applies to low-risk activities such as hiking, cycling, fishing, or even walking a dog in order to prevent forest fires, according to the Premier and Minister.

Constitutional lawyer Allison Pejovic states that these sweeping restrictions violate Canadians’ right to liberty – protected by section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Ms. Pejovic writes that “walking through the woods and fishing do not pose a risk of starting fires. Punishing Canadians by restricting their freedom to roam and enjoy nature is disproportionate and not rationally connected to preventing forest fires.”

Less restrictive measures, such as banning smoking and recreational fires, increasing patrols on Crown land, and improving forest management, could address legitimate fire concerns without violating citizens’ liberty.

The letter cautions that if the province proceeds with “overbroad, arbitrary, and grossly disproportionate restrictions,” the province could face a legal challenge and be brought to heel in court. Ms. Pejovic remarks that “treating people as the problem rather than targeting actions that actually create fire risks shows a serious and concerning disregard for human rights and individual liberty.”

The letter urges the province to immediately remove the ban on harmless recreational activities on Crown land.

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