Sault Ste Marie is the latest Ontario municipality to propose banning the public from carrying protest signs into public meetings, despite an Ontario Superior Court ruling that the bans violate the Charter of Rights.
Sault Ste Marie Council will vote tonight on the ban. [Page 239 in the agenda]
In Gammie v. South Bruce Peninsula (Town), 2014 ONSC 6209, the Court ruled the public bringing signs to public meeting is expressive activity protected by Section 2(b) of the Charter. Justice Price ruled municipalities cannot impose blanket sign bans.
[This August 2024 letter by the Canadian Constitution Foundation to Niagara Council explains the ruling in greater detail.]