(Kenora, Canada) – The City of Kenora has received a $1,000 administrative monetary penalty after municipal staff removed federal election signs without first notifying the affected campaigns.

The October 29 notice concerns the 2025 federal election.

Investigators confirmed that about 102 signs were taken from public property without prior notice. They also found that the signs were not removed because they posed a public-safety hazard.

The complaint arrived April 24, 2025. Section 325 of the Canada Elections Act allows public authorities to remove election signs with reasonable notice or for a safety hazard.

City’s corrective steps reduced the penalty

The case summary says Kenora updated guidance for bylaw staff and amended municipal bylaws to clarify compliance. Those actions were treated as mitigation, reducing the $1,500 baseline to a final $1,000 penalty confirmed on review.

This is an administrative enforcement measure. The published notice does not describe a criminal conviction.

Sources: Commissioner of Canada Elections, City of Kenora case summary, October 29; The Canadian Press via CHCH, October 29; updated October 30.

Editorial illustration of blank election-sign frames and municipal maintenance equipment; not a photograph of the removed signs.