An Ontario man is taking the province back to court over new rules that restrict political and social messages on roadside billboards, arguing the changes violate Canadians’ freedom of expression.George Katerberg, a retired HVAC technician from Sudbury, launched a constitutional challenge after the Ministry of Transportation again denied his request to display a billboard critical of vaccine messaging. The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms is providing lawyers to Katerberg..The dispute began in March 2024 when Katerberg tried to post a sign along Hwy. 17 near Thessalon. It included images of politicians and public health officials alongside a message questioning their statements about vaccines. The Ministry initially rejected the billboard, calling it hateful, but later conceded it did not violate hate speech laws and agreed to reconsider.In April 2025, however, the Ministry updated its policy manual to ban all signs along rural “bush highways” that promote anything other than goods, services, or sanctioned community events. .The revised guidelines prohibit any content that could “demean, denigrate, or disparage” people, organizations or professions — effectively barring all political or social commentary.Lawyers argue the policy is overly broad and infringes on Charter rights. “By amending the Highway Corridor Management Manual to effectively prohibit signage that promotes political and social causes, the Ministry of Transportation has turned Mr. Katerberg’s fight to raise his sign into a fight on behalf of all Ontarians,” said constitutional lawyer Chris Fleury.A hearing date has not yet been scheduled.
An Ontario man is taking the province back to court over new rules that restrict political and social messages on roadside billboards, arguing the changes violate Canadians’ freedom of expression.George Katerberg, a retired HVAC technician from Sudbury, launched a constitutional challenge after the Ministry of Transportation again denied his request to display a billboard critical of vaccine messaging. The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms is providing lawyers to Katerberg..The dispute began in March 2024 when Katerberg tried to post a sign along Hwy. 17 near Thessalon. It included images of politicians and public health officials alongside a message questioning their statements about vaccines. The Ministry initially rejected the billboard, calling it hateful, but later conceded it did not violate hate speech laws and agreed to reconsider.In April 2025, however, the Ministry updated its policy manual to ban all signs along rural “bush highways” that promote anything other than goods, services, or sanctioned community events. .The revised guidelines prohibit any content that could “demean, denigrate, or disparage” people, organizations or professions — effectively barring all political or social commentary.Lawyers argue the policy is overly broad and infringes on Charter rights. “By amending the Highway Corridor Management Manual to effectively prohibit signage that promotes political and social causes, the Ministry of Transportation has turned Mr. Katerberg’s fight to raise his sign into a fight on behalf of all Ontarians,” said constitutional lawyer Chris Fleury.A hearing date has not yet been scheduled.
