Police removal of local residents from council meeting
Lawyers funded by the Justice Centre have sent a legal warning letter to the Municipality of North Huron calling for the immediate repeal of a by-law that bans members of the public from recording municipal council meetings, as well as the reversal of a related 60-day ban imposed on two local residents.
The letter follows an incident at a North Huron council meeting on January 15, 2026, when Ontario Provincial Police officers were called by municipal officials and directed to remove two residents from council chambers after one of them was observed recording the meeting on his phone.
Neither individual was accused of disruptive behaviour, yet both were later banned from attending council meetings for 60 days.
Lawyers say by-law violates freedom of expression
Lawyers say the council’s by-law prohibiting public recording of council meetings violates section 2(b) of the Charter, which protects freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
Courts have repeatedly confirmed that recording and publishing matters of public interest, including the proceedings of elected bodies, is constitutionally protected activity.
Constitutional lawyer Darren Leung said, “Freedom of the press guarantees citizens the right to record and publish matters of public interest, which is especially significant when dealing with democratic institutions such as elected municipal councils.”
Resident bans and police involvement also challenged
The warning letter further states that the 60-day bans imposed on the two residents are arbitrary and unconstitutional, and criticizes council’s decision to call 911 during the incident, noting that emergency services should not be used in the absence of any reasonable apprehension of danger.