Candidates Entitled To Campaign In Apartment Buildings

SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--Candidates Entitled To Campaign In Apartment Buildings

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

Nova Scotia's Municipal Elections Officer said she has received a report of candidates being denied entry into apartment and other multiple residence buildings. "The law is on the candidates' side," said Janet Willwerth. "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 candidates 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 renters of apartments and owners of condominiums to display election campaign materials from their units.

Ms. Willwerth said she has been informed of a candidate in Halifax Regional Municipality calling in the police after being denied entry to the building. "It is important for electors to have the information they need to make an informed decision on election day," she said.

Ms. Willwerth has written to the Investment Property Owners Association of Nova Scotia asking that it help get the word out to 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 not more than six months.