N.S. Premier Tim Houston responds to Supreme Court ruling on woods ban

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston responds to the Supreme Court’s decision on the 2025 woods ban.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston weighed in on the recent Supreme Court decision that found the province’s ban on entering the woods last summer during an extreme wildfire season was “unreasonable.”

Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Jamie Campbell ruled the Department of Natural Resources failed to consider the Charter Rights of ordinary Nova Scotians when it imposed the provincewide ban on entering the woods last summer.

The Nova Scotia government banned travelling in the woods on Aug. 5, 2025, to prevent wildfires as the province faced a long stretch of hot, dry weather. Hiking, camping, fishing and the use of vehicles in the woods were also banned, and trail systems through the woods were closed.

Houston told reporters Thursday that his government is reviewing the 17-page decision but signaled it will continue to err on the side of caution when extreme wildfire situations arise.

“I’ll always look at the facts that are in front of me in an evolving emergency and do what is necessary to keep people safe,” said Houston. “Public safety may not be the primary consideration of others, but it is the primary consideration of me as premier.”

The plaintiffs who challenged the woods ban called the decision a win for the Charter rights of everyday Nova Scotians.

Official Opposition Leader Claudia Chender said the wildfire situation was dire but the court’s decision is something the government needs to consider when dealing with future emergency situations.

“I don’t fault the government for taking steps, but in this as in almost everything else, the government failed to engage with Nova Scotians,” said Chender. “And they failed to truly understand what the issues were and how best to address them.”

During the judicial review case, the court heard and saw evidence about how the province moved to restrict access of people in the woods to protect the land from fire risk, but the plaintiff’s legal team argued they found no evidence government officials considered the Charter rights of ordinary users of the woods when the ban was implemented.

“The Supreme Court of Canada has held that when a decision that limits Charter rights or engages Charter values does not consider those rights or values, the decision is unreasonable,” wrote Campbell in his decision.

Former premier and interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin said the government needs to fully analyze the court decision.

“I think everything should be considered in the name of safety,” said Rankin. “But it seemed to me a quick decision, a blunt instrument that needs to be looked at.”

Houston stands behind his government’s decision and seemed to indicate it was unlikely they would appeal the decision.

“I am not aware of an appeal being prepared,” said Houston. “It’s kind of come and gone.”

Houston said he wouldn’t think twice of doing the same if ever a similar wildfire situation happened.

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