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Toronto Sun
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
WARMINGTON: Veteran ignites debate by challenging Nova Scotia's $25G fine for woods walk
Jeff Evely has been to war, so he didn't hesitate to fight his provincial government's ban on walking in the woods to prevent forest fires Get the latest from Joe Warmington straight to your inbox Jeff Evely, a Canadian Forces veteran who served with the Air Force in Afghanistan and Iraq, was fined $25,000 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, after he purposely disregarded Nova Scotia's ban on walking in the woods to prevent forest fires in an effort to stand up to what he sees as government overreach. Photo by Supplied / Joel Evely For those wondering if Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston was serious about fining citizens $25,000 for taking a walk in the woods, meet the first person to receive one of those lofty fines. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account His name is Jeff Evely – and he's extremely serious himself. There wasn't a challenge he wasn't up to facing while serving with the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan in 2009 and later in Iraq in 2019. He understands what it's like to go to war and come home with scars. The Air Force veteran of 20 years worked in the unarmed aircraft unit, which meant, 'I would see our young soldiers die at night and watch them get loaded on planes in caskets in the day.' Needless to say, he suffers from PTSD. 'I saw more Canadians loaded into Hercs than most,' he said. 'So, I understand the price and cost of freedom.' Jeff Evely, a Canadian Forces veteran who served with the Air Force in Afghanistan and Iraq, was fined $25,000 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, after he purposely disregarded Nova Scotia's ban on walking in the woods to prevent forest fires in an effort to stand up to what he sees as government overreach. Photo by Supplied / Joel Evely And when someone is being told they will face a fine for walking in the forest, he admits he does not approve. 'I fought it last time they did that and I am fighting it this time,' he said. 'It's just a walk in the woods.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. On his X account, he posted a video of himself on his own property and then later 'at the ministry office eight minutes from my house' near Sydney, Nova Scotia, where he gave a heads up to the provincial environmental officers that he was going to go into the woods across from their building. They warned Evely not to do it or he would be fined. He did it and they gave him a ticket for $28,872.50. 'Seems there are taxes and fees and victim sure charges,' Evely said with a chuckle. He feels the people of Nova Scotia and Canada are victims of government overreach and tyranny. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Nova Scotia government's 'stay out of the woods order' comes across to many as Orwellian. There was no order to not sell matches or lighters or ban chainsaws or cooking stoves or to throw the book at actual arsonists with stiffer sentences. Just a sweeping ban on law-abiding people and their movements. 'It's about human dignity,' said Evely, who believes banning citizens from going for a walk in the woods on the premise that they could start a fire is unconstitutional. The JCCF (Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms) agrees with Evely and he said they'll will help him battle this out in court. Constitutional lawyer Marty Moore @CanConLaw says the Nova Scotia's broad ban on hiking, biking, fishing, and walking in the woods is extreme and unconstitutional. 'This law views people as the problem – not dangerous activities. This law is anti-human, and should someone… — Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (@JCCFCanada) August 9, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Having covered veterans in foreign wars, my suggestion to Houston would be to drop this case immediately and not to do to this to a veteran who has to live with the horrors of war. It would be better to alter the message and rules to simply tell people not to have campfires or smoke while in the woods instead of effectively locking them down. Going into the wilderness is a right of passage in Nova Scotia – not just for a Canadian veteran but for everyone. There are ways to prevent forest fires, but taking away freedoms should not be one of them. Jeff Evely, a Canadian Forces veteran who served with the Air Force in Afghanistan and Iraq, was fined $25,000 on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, after he purposely disregarded Nova Scotia's ban on walking in the woods to prevent forest fires in an effort to stand up to what he sees as government overreach. Photo by Supplied / Joel Evely Evely is prepared to lose his shirt to try to make this point. Feeling people lawfully and respectfully hiking in the woods are not going to start a forest fire, he said his goal is to fight back against 'do as I say or else' authoritarian-style government that goes beyond common sense. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. That's why veterans like himself fought – and often died – in wars. Read More Evely said he harbours no ill will for the provincial officers who laid the charges. 'They are just doing their jobs' and 'I told them it was not personal' and 'we shook hands when I left,' he explained. But Evely will see them in court. The Houston government maintains the ban on entering forests is necessary given the hot, dry conditions throughout the province. Evely says he believes in staying on top of leaders who overstep their authority in treating people like they are enslaved. Either way, a fire has started in Nova Scotia – if not one in the forest, one in the courts. jwarmington@ Columnists Toronto Blue Jays World Editorials Columnists
New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
A Pay Raise for Canada's Military to Boost Recruitment and Retention
On Friday I found myself in an oversize hangar with an even more imposing C-17 Globemaster cargo plane sitting outside of it. Prime Minister Mark Carney made his way to Canadian Forces Base Trenton to fill in the details of the boost of two billion Canadian dollars that will be given annually to the military's payroll. The increase in wages is a key part of Mr. Carney's ambitious promise to raise Canada's military spending to NATO's minimum level of 2 percent of the country's gross domestic product by April. It's also one of those rare issues that are largely supported across the political spectrum. The pay raise was not, however, precisely the 20 percent increase that David McGuinty, the defense minister, suggested was coming in June. Pay for the lowest ranks — the majority of members of the forces — will indeed rise by 20 percent. But higher ranks will receive lower increases. The annual base pay for the lowest-ranking members of the military currently ranges from 43,368 Canadian dollars to 63,648 Canadian dollars, depending on class. Mr. Carney suggested that the differences in the new pay rates were an attempt to narrow discrepancies in pay between ranks. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Canadian military backs F-35 while Spain and India reject the U.S. fighter jet
Swiss politicians question F-35 purchase as cost increases and Trump hits country with major tariffs The Canadian military's F-35 review is to be completed by the end of the summer. Photo by ERROL MCGIHON / POSTMEDIA The Canadian military is solidly backing the controversial F-35 fighter jet while Spain and India are rejecting the aircraft after facing economic threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Swiss politicians also called Thursday for cancelling that country's F-35 purchase after Trump hit their country with 39 per cent tariffs. But Reuters news service reported Thursday that the Canadian military is recommending that Canada stick with its proposed purchase of 88 U.S.-built F-35s. That recommendation didn't come as a surprise for observers since the Canadian Forces originally lobbied for and selected the American stealth fighter. The Canadian Forces did not provide comment on the status of the F-35 review originally ordered by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Canadian Forces leaders are very close to their U.S. counterparts and have been pushing for more integration and co-operation between the two militaries even as Trump has threatened the Canadian economy. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The final decision on whether Canada proceeds with the F-35 purchase will be made by Carney who ordered the review of Canada's purchase in mid-March in the wake of threats against Canadian sovereignty by Trump. The U.S. has become increasingly hostile to Canada, with the American president continuing with his economic efforts to punish Canada and push for this country to become the 51st state. At this point, Canada has only financially committed to purchasing the first 16 jets from the U.S. government. The entire order was for 88 F-35s, which are manufactured by the American defence giant Lockheed Martin. Defence Minister David McGuinty has said the review will be completed by the end of the summer and would be made public. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Spain has recently rejected the F-35 to focus on the European-built Eurofighter as well as a new future combat system consisting of drones as well as piloted new generation aircraft made in Europe. Trump has promised to punish Spain economically because it did not increase its military spending enough. India has rejected the F-35 as well as the purchase of other U.S.-built military goods as Trump hammers that country with major tariffs. In Switzerland there is a movement to cancel the F-35 purchase after the costs for that jet increased and Trump imposed a 39 per cent tariff on Swiss goods, Bloomberg reported Thursday. 'I don't know how our people will accept the purchase of F-35 fighter jets at prices higher than originally assumed – especially after the American tariff shock,' said Hans- Peter Portmann, a Liberal lawmaker and fellow party member of Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In June, Canada's Auditor General Karen Hogan issued a report that Canada's F-35 purchase had already jumped in cost for $19 billion to $27.7 billion. Another $5.5 billion will be needed to achieve full operation capability for the planes, Hogan added. Former defence procurement chief Alan Williams and various defence analysts have warned that the F-35 represents a strategic vulnerability for Canada since the U.S. has total control over software upgrades and spare parts on the aircraft. The Ottawa Citizen reported May 5 that the U.S. will own all parts for Canada's F-35s even when they are located at Canadian bases. In addition, retired Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin, the air force general who originally recommended Canada buy the F-35 fighter jet, recently said the purchase should no longer go forward as planned because the U.S. has become so untrustworthy. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. European defence firms say they could offer Canada fighter jets to replace the F-35. At least one has proposed previously to build the planes in Canada. During the federal election campaign, Carney called for a shift away from Canada's economic and military reliance on the U.S. and outlined his plan to strengthen trade and defence links with other nations. Some retired military officers as well as defence analysts from DND-funded think tanks have argued that Canada should proceed with its entire F-35 purchase because it needs to remain a strong ally of the U.S. Supporters of Canada's F-35 purchase also point to the hundreds of millions of dollars worth of contracts that Canadian companies have earned by supplying parts for the U.S. aircraft. But on Feb. 28, the National Post reported that Trump had told Lockheed Martin he wanted those contracts back in the U.S. when the Canadian deals came up for renewal. David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: Read More Toronto Blue Jays Tennis Olympics Editorials Ontario
Ottawa Citizen
2 days ago
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Government announces major pay and compensation boost for Canadian Forces personnel
Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced pay hikes for military personnel, ranging from 20 per cent for the lower ranks to an eight per cent boost for senior officers. Article content The total cost for the various elements of the new compensation and benefits package announced Friday will be $2 billion annually. Article content Article content With the 20 per cent boost, the starting salary for a private in the regular force will increase from $3,614 a month or $43,368 annually to $4,337 a month or $52,044 annually. Reserve military personnel would get a 13 per cent boost. Article content Article content Military personnel above that basic rate, up to the rank of lieutenant colonel, will see a 13 per cent increase in pay, according to documents provided by the Canadian Forces. That would apply to both regular and reserve forces. Article content Colonels and generals, both regular and reserve forces, will receive an eight per cent pay hike. Article content In addition, a new annual lump sum payment will be provided based on years of service and tied to an individual's enrolment date in the Canadian Forces, according to the new compensation plan. Reserve military personnel would receive a lesser annual lump sum. A Canadian Forces member with five to 10 years of service would receive a $2,000 annual lump sum payment while military personnel with 21 years or more service would receive a $6,000 lump sum payment. Article content Extra compensation is also being provided for military instructors and certain occupations which are critical to the military. A recruitment allowance for critical occupations, such as vehicle and dental technicians, could be as much as $50,000 over a number of years. Article content Article content Article content Changes are also being made to allowances provided for time at sea or in the field as well as for compensation for those military personnel who are required to move for their jobs. Article content Article content In addition to any allowances received for being in the field or at sea, military members will receive $45 a day when deployed on domestic operations such as responding to forest fires or floods. A new allowance will also be paid for deployments to the Arctic. Article content Military officials, speaking at a briefing Friday, noted that the last major overhaul of Canadian Forces compensation was in 1998. Under rules imposed by the Department of National Defence, news outlets cannot identify the officials by name. Article content The officials said they hope to have the new compensation in place by the fall but no specific date was provided. Article content The announcement on Friday is somewhat different than what was previously outlined by Defence Minister David McGuinty. McGuinty told journalists June 10 that the 20 per cent pay increase would be across-the-board.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
About 900 more people being evacuated due to NL wildfires; Canadian Forces called in
Forest fires have closed roads and caused mandatory evacuations from several Avalon Peninsula communities along Conception Bay North, N.L., Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly ST. JOHN'S — A Newfoundland wildfire is forcing another 900 people to leave their homes as hot temperatures fuel multiple out-of-control blazes in the province. Premier John Hogan said Thursday that the province has ordered the residents of two communities — Ochre Pit Cove and Salmon Cove — to join the hundreds of other evacuees already ordered to leave communities along the western coast of Conception Bay in eastern Newfoundland. The 21-square-kilometre fire in that area is also near Kingston and the amalgamated community of Small Point–Adam's Cove–Blackhead–Broad Cove. Meanwhile, Hogan says the federal government has approved support and personnel from the Canadian Forces and the coast guard. He said the government has requested Ottawa's assistance with staff to provide humanitarian aid, Canadian Forces firefighters, use of coast guard helicopters, and the transport of food and medical supplies. The premier confirmed a number of structures have been destroyed but added there are still no details on how many. Meanwhile, the province's fire dashboard indicates that a two-square-kilometre fire burning in the centre of the province near Martin Lake remains out of control, as does a two-square-kilometre fire near the community of Holyrood. The Department of Justice and Public Safety says hot, dry weather is expected in Newfoundland on Thursday, along with 'light winds.' John Haggie, minister of justice and public safety, said about 80 per cent of evacuees find their own accommodations, and the Red Cross helps the remaining people find places to stay. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 7, 2025. Michael Tutton, The Canadian Press
