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What are your councilors hiding from you?
City councils and school boards across Canada are shielding their decisions from public scrutiny by banning citizens, parents, and taxpayers from recording public meetings. Only the Canadians who can attend these meetings in person are informed about the decisions of their elected representatives. Recording bans like these are a clear violation of freedom of expression - protected by the Charter.
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Councilors are suppressing free speech
Imagine going to a public meeting of your local school board or city council. You want to record the public meeting so that you can share it with friends, neighbours and parents who cannot attend. (Who can attend every meeting, after all?)
When you pull out your phone to record the meeting, the school board chairman or mayor declares that nobody can record it. The declaration is enforced by security guards and police, who arrest and ticket individuals who fail to comply. This is actually happening to Canadians today, in cities and towns across the country.
On January 15 in North Huron, Ontario, two residents tried to record an open city council meeting. The council’s “rules” prohibited public recordings.
City Councilors called 911. Police removed them from the meeting and ticketed them for “trespassing.”
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What are we doing about it?
Lawyers funded by the Justice Centre sent a strong warning letter to the Municipality of North Huron. The letter warned the Council about misusing police resources to suppress free speech and stated, “This prohibition on recording is unconstitutional and must be rescinded immediately.”
Our lawyers aren’t the only ones who think this.
The Supreme Court of Canada itself has repeatedly affirmed that recording is protected by the Charter whenever it enhances democratic discourse, truth finding, and self-fulfillment.
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The law is on our side. That’s why these legal warnings are so effective.
Our lawyers demanded that the Municipality of North Huron reverse its recording ban. North Huron has stated that it will amend its bylaw on March 2.
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Last October, our lawyers helped Catherine Kronas by demanding that the Ancaster High Secondary School Council in Ontario reverse its recording ban. In November, the Council did just that.
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In January, our lawyers helped Jeanette Miller by demanding that the Town of Whitby Council in Ontario reverse its recording ban. Jeanette was even banned from recording her own presentation at a public meeting. On February 2, 2026, the Council reversed its ban.
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Recording bans are still a problem
Despite these victories, municipal councils and school boards across the country are still trying to stop people from recording public meetings.
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The City of Nanaimo, British Columbia, prohibits the public from recording City Council meetings or taking photos or videos in any municipal facility. “Offenders” can even be suspended from accessing municipal property for up to 18 months. Our lawyers have sent Nanaimo a legal warning.
The Rural Municipality of Springfield, Manitoba, has also banned recording of council meetings. Our lawyers are taking Springfield to court on April 30, 2026.
Will you help us fight for democracy and transparency in Nanaimo and Springfield?
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Recording bans prevent Canadians from informing other residents, voters, parents and taxpayers about what is happening at their school board and municipal council.
Recording bans prevent Canadians from participating in their own democracy, and from challenging government abuses of power.
That's why we fight these cases.
We help everyday Canadians demand fairness and openness from their elected representatives.
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Holding governments to account costs money: lawyers, letters, research, and also court challenges whenever necessary.
Our generous donors make all this possible.
We never accept funding from government.
Your help today allows us to send warning letters sooner, go to court when needed, and stop more bans from popping up across the country.
Visit: jccf.kindful.com
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