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CALGARY – Today, the Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF) sent a legal warning to the Town of Annapolis Royal in Nova Scotia after council voted to terminate livestreaming its meetings and restrict public access to recordings.

At an April 15 council meeting, community members raised concerns about transparency and public participation after council approved a motion to stop livestreaming meetings and to password-protect recordings, citing concerns about members of the public commenting on, clipping, and reposting footage online which, council argues, could lead to harassment. 

The move is a clear violation of section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which protects freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media communication.

In a letter sent today to Mayor Amery Boyer, CCF Counsel Alexander Surgenor advised that restricting access to council proceedings and limiting how recordings may be shared severely undermines democratic accountability. The letter notes that commenting, clipping, and reposting are routine forms of expression, and are central to how Canadians engage in civic life.

“This decision is an unjustified attempt to limit public discourse and potential scrutiny of local government and to limit access to information,” said Surgenor. “While the motion’s aims are ostensibly noble, concerns about ‘safety’ and harassment can be addressed with measures that already exist. Intimidation and harassment are already criminal offences under the Criminal Code of Canada.”

The CCF has asked the town to reverse its decision by its next council meeting on May 8, 2026. If the decision is not reversed, the CCF will consider litigation.