https://decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/1038/index.do
In THE RAMSDEN DECISION the SUPREME COURT OF CANADA defended street postering as FREEDOM OF SPEECH for those unable to use mainstream media (ads in magazines, newspapers, on radio, television and other outlets).
That was a landmark decision.
It was heralded as such.
However today when I or anyone else in Canada posts a flyer promoting an event I’m doing be it an event, a yard sale, a lost cat, a lost dog or anything else that flyer is routinely covered up by someone posting flyers for hire (the fee for this can be anywhere from fifty-cents a flyer to several dollars).
It is not unusual to find the flyers I and others have posted not only covered but also torn up into bits of confetti which are then posted in clumps behind flyers posted advertising services that post street flyers.
Every city in Canada fought against the Ramsden Decision. Most reluctantly accepted it.
THE CITY OF TORONTO took a long time coming up with its Street Poster Bylaws. Those Bylaws are extremely well thought out. They are emminently fair.
The problem is the City says it can’t afford to enforce them.
Try using that as an excuse when a City Bylaw enforcement officer arrives at your door.
They are not going to accept that as an answer. Nor should they.
Neither should we.
I’m not against people postering for hire.
I am against people postering for hire who cover up and/or destroy my flyers and those of others in the operation of their business.
Under THE RAMSDEN DECISION businesses and people who promote in mainstream media clearly do not have the right to street poster.
That right is exclusively resrved for those who can not afford to advertise in magazines, newspapers, on radio, television, etc..
The issue is FREEDOM OF SPEECH FOR THE POOR.
The poor actually includes most of us.
City of Toronto Street Poster Bylaws limit posters to letter size.
I find that fair.
The City of Toronto allows only one flyer per subject on a City Postering site.
Anonymous flyers are illegal.
A friend was postering for an event he waas doing.
He watched as the poster he had just put up was thoughlessly covered up by someone postering as a business. That person took a picure of the poster he had just put up. My friend followed him. The person covered up everything. Then, to my friend’s surprise, that person went back along the same route this time covering up everything he himself had posted and again taking pictures.
Presumably these were sent to the clients to show the work had been done.
Of course, another person posting for hire came along and covered everything in their path.
Freedom of Speech is smothered on the street. It is dead.
–Reg Hartt 03/19/2026.
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