The Democracy Fund argues Sault Ste. Marie violated constitutional free expression rights after bylaw officers, accompanied by police, twice removed small personal protest signs from private property.
ONTARIO— In March 2025, a TDF client and Sault Ste. Marie homeowner displayed a small plywood sign on his property with the words "F**k Trudeau" and "Freedom."
City officials visited the residence without invitation or permission and removed it. In a letter subsequently provided to the homeowner, the City claimed that the sign required a permit to comply with local bylaws. TDF lawyers contend that the sign displays a personal, political message, and its removal was arbitrary and in violation of the city’s own sign by-law. TDF lawyers are currently canvassing potential Charter challenges due to this apparent infringement.
Following this incident, the homeowner displayed another small plywood sign on his property, this time with the statement "F**k Carney." Once again, the City sent agents, including by-law officers and workers, to remove the sign. This time agents were accompanied by several armed police officers.
TDF lawyers sent a letter to the City stating that the removals were arbitrary, improper and an infringement of the homeowner's Charter right to free expression: the City's reply failed to address the issues and bordered on dismissive.
TDF Litigation Director Mark Joseph stated, "As with the earlier sign, our position remains that personal political signs require no permit: it is political speech and, as such, pursuant to Supreme Court rulings, is granted the greatest amount of protection under the Charter. The removal of our client's political signs constitutes a gross infringement of his Charter rights. The legally unresponsive letter from the City betrays the weakness of its legal position on the matter."
TDF and its client are considering all available legal options.
Updates will follow.
About The Democracy Fund:
Founded in 2021, The Democracy Fund (TDF) is a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, advancing education and relieving poverty. TDF promotes constitutional rights through litigation and public education. TDF supports an access to justice initiative for Canadians whose civil liberties have been infringed by government lockdowns and other public policy responses to the pandemic.