Election Signage:

Question: 1) Can a landlord in Ontario stop me from putting up an election candidate sign in my rental unit or on the property where I live?

Answer: 2) In Ontario, Cross Legal Services can help tenants and landlords understand that the Canada Elections Act protects a tenant’s right to display election advertising posters on the premises covered by the lease, meaning a landlord generally cannot prohibit you from posting them.   The law allows only reasonable conditions on the size or type of election advertising posters and allows a ban on posters in common areas, so the practical takeaway is that you should place the sign within your rented unit and respect any reasonable size or type limits.   If a landlord is threatening removal or restriction beyond what’s allowed, Cross Legal Services offers paralegal support and dispute guidance, and you can call (289) 443-0675 to discuss your situation.

Tenants Have a Right to Use a Sign to Promote an Election Candidate

In Canada, as a free and democratic society, all persons may choose to support a particular candidate in an election; and, with very few exceptions, post signage in promotion of a preferred candidate upon the premises that such persons occupy.  This right expressly includes persons occupying rented premises; and accordingly, a landlord is forbidden from restricting the posting of election signs by a tenant.

The Law

The Canada Elections Act, S.C. 2000, Chapter 9 prescribes the protection provided to a tenant who wishes to advertise or promote a favoured candidate.  Specifically, the Canada Elections Act states:

Conclusion

A landlord may restrict election posters or signs to a reasonable size.  Additionally, a tenant holds the right to place a poster or sign only within the rental unit; and accordingly, a landlord may forbid posters or signs from being placed upon areas beyond the rental unit occupied by the tenant.