Candidates Entitled to Campaign in Apartment Buildings

Landlords and apartment building owners are being reminded that candidates in municipal elections are entitled to campaign in apartment buildings.

Nova Scotia's municipal elections officer, Vi Carmichael, said she has received reports of candidates being denied entry into apartment and other residential buildings.

"The law is on the candidates' side," said Ms. Carmichael. "The Municipal Elections Act is very clear: landlords and building owners cannot prevent candidates or their representatives from canvassing in apartment buildings.

"The occupants of the individual apartments may, of course, choose to let the candidate into their units or not, but the candidates have the right to be in the building during reasonable hours."

Candidates in federal and provincial elections also have this right. In addition, the law upholds the right of apartment renters and condominiums owners to display election campaign materials from their units.

The Investment Property Owners Association of Nova Scotia has advised its members that the law entitles candidates to campaign in apartment buildings and that to prevent them is an offence punishable by a fine of $2,500 or imprisonment of up to six months.