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Election Signage: Concerns for Wrongful Interference by a Landlord
Question: Can tenants display election signs in their homes?
Answer: Yes, according to Canada Elections Act S.C. 2000,Chapter 9, section 322, landlords cannot prohibit tenants from displaying election advertising posters in their rental units. However, landlords may enforce reasonable size restrictions and limit display to inside the rental spaces. Empowered Legal Services Professional Corporation is here to help you understand your legal rights and navigate tenancy issues with confidence.
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:
Election advertising posters
322 (1) No landlord or person acting on their behalf may prohibit a tenant from displaying election advertising posters on the premises to which the lease relates and no condominium corporation or any of its agents may prohibit the owner of a condominium unit from displaying election advertising posters on the premises of his or her unit.
Permitted restrictions
(2) Despite subsection (1), a landlord, person, condominium corporation or agent referred to in that subsection may set reasonable conditions relating to the size or type of election advertising posters that may be displayed on the premises and may prohibit the display of election advertising posters in common areas of the building in which the premises are found.
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.