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TORONTO – The Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF) has convinced the Town of Aylmer, Ontario to revise its guidance to municipal election candidates, which seriously curtailed candidates’ freedom of expression. 

The guidance prohibited splash pads, bandshells and water towers from appearing in social media content filmed for campaign purposes and suggested candidates could not set up booths to campaign at private events in public parks.

CCF Counsel Alexander Surgenor wrote to the town on August 7, 2026, flagging the “Q&A for Prospective and Registered Candidates” guidance provided on July 31, 2026, as an unconstitutional and overbroad interpretation of the relevant by-law. The CCF advised the Town to remove the restrictions, and it has done so.

The CCF now considers the matter resolved.

“We’re very pleased to hear that the guidance has been revised appropriately,” said Surgenor. “It now provides clarity, benefits all candidates instead of just incumbents, and will hopefully alert other municipalities to ensure that their policies honour freedom of expression.”

“Discourse and political debate are essential, especially during an election,” Surgenor added.

The reversal comes as part of the CCF’s broader campaign against municipal censorship, including the annual report exposing bylaws across the country, Canada’s Most Censorious Bylaws, and companion award, the Municipal Muzzle Award, given to the city or town with the most speech-restricting bylaw.

The CCF also confronts unconstitutional bylaws through its Censorship Defence Fund, launched in 2025 to support Canadians challenging censorship from their local government.

Josh Dehaas, CCF interim Litigation Director, thanked the Town of Aylmer for fixing the guidance.

“While the CCF is prepared to litigate when necessary to defend freedom of speech, we appreciate it when governments correct their behaviour rather than wasting time and money by going to court,” he said.