Election season is right around the corner and you and your tenants may have questions about how campaigning could impact your rental or multi-family residence. This blog can act as your go-to for election protocol answers.

Wait? There’s an election?

Yes – there will be two! The provincial government is set to have an election October 28 and your local municipality (City, town, village, R.M.)  will hold an election in November 13.

So what does this mean for you? It means that candidates and political parties will be campaigning over the coming months. This includes going door to door to meet with voters, delivering pamphlets by mail, and even offering signage to display in windows and on lawns.

Candidate & Volunteer Door Knocking

During the campaign, individuals will be campaigning and may go door to door. Approved provincial candidates will receive a voters list. Provincial candidates will also have access to a Right of Access document that allows the candidate and appointed representatives to enter apartment complexes to meet with potential voters.

Notice to Building Owners and Property Managers

Please be advised that during provincial elections, section 36.11 of the Condominium Property Act, 1993 and section 46 of the Residential Tenancies Act of 2006 require that candidates or authorized representatives be granted access at reasonable times to units and the common areas of multiple-residence buildings for the purpose of canvassing and distributing election materials.

Section 283.1(1) of The Elections Act of 1996 requires that Elections Saskatchewan provide confirmation of this right to any third party upon request.

During the campaign period for a provincial election, buildings are required to provide reasonable access to a candidate, or an authorized agent or representative of a candidate.

Before entering a condominium unit or condominium common space, a candidate or a candidate representative may be required:

1. To provide their name and address; and
2. In the case of a candidate representative, to produce the candidate’s written authorization that appoints the candidate representative to act on the candidates behalf.

There is not specific legislation for municipal or school board candidates.

Right of Tenant to Display Election Advertising

Section 47 of the Residential Tenancies Act states the following:

47[1] No landlord shall prohibit a tenant from displaying election advertising posters in or on the rental unit occupied by the tenant during a campaign to elect a member to the House of Commons or the Legislative Assembly or to an office where election to that office is governed by The Local Government Election Act, 2015.

[2] A landlord may:

1. set reasonable conditions respecting the type and size of election advertising posters that may be displayed in or on rental units; and
2. prohibit the display of election advertising posters on any part of the building in which the rental unit is situated and of which the landlord retains possession and that is intended for the common use and enjoyment of the tenants of the landlord.

[3] All election advertising posters that are displayed pursuant to subsection (1) must be removed within seven days after the date of the election to which the posters relate.

To summarize: Tenants are allowed to display signage for an election candidate. They must take it down 7 days after the election. As the landlord, you are allowed to set specific rules as outlined above.