The Ontario Divisional Court has ruled that the Ontario Ministry of Transportation violated the Charter rights of George Katerberg

The Justice Centre announces.

In a decision released today, the Court declared that the Ministry's policy prohibiting political messaging on billboards along certain northern Ontario highways unjustifiably infringes freedom of expression protected by section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Court struck down the policy relied upon by the Ministry and sent Mr. Katerberg's application back to the Ministry for reconsideration.

Constitutional lawyer Chris Fleury said, “Mr. Katerberg is elated with today’s ruling. The Court was correct to criticize the Ministry’s shifting and inconsistent justifications throughout the process.”

He continued, “The decision is a welcome affirmation of the importance of political expression and that governments cannot prohibit political expression while at the same time permitting commercial advertisement.”

The Justice Centre announces that the Ontario Divisional Court has ruled that the Ontario Ministry of Transportation violated the Charter rights of George Katerberg by preventing him from displaying a political billboard criticizing government officials' response to Covid.

In a… pic.twitter.com/h7s0I2jTwx

— Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (@JCCFCanada)July 9, 2026