Election Signage:

Question: In Ontario, can my landlord stop me from posting an election sign in my rental unit?

Answer: In Ontario, a tenant generally can display election advertising posters on the leased premises, and a landlord cannot prohibit that right, though they may set reasonable conditions on the sign’s size or type and may ban signs in common areas; the protection is set out in the Canada Elections Act, S.C. 2000, c. 9, s. 322.   If your landlord is restricting where and what you can display, Civil Litigations Paralegal Services can help you understand your options and respond with the right next steps for Ontario tenants, call (416) 229-1479 to get started.

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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.