1 person charged in connection with election sign mischief in Ottawa

The sign outside Ottawa Police headquarters on Elgin St. is seen in this undated photo. (Aaron Reid/CTV News Ottawa)

The Ottawa Police Service says one person has been charged in connection with damaging election signs.

Police told CTV News Ottawa in an email that there have been 30 reported incidents of election sign mischief in the city related to the 2025 federal election campaign as of April 17.

“These reports may involve the damage or theft of multiple signs within a single incident, meaning the total number of affected signs could be more,” police said.

Only one of those incidents has so far resulted in charges. A man was charged with mischief after signs were damaged in the area of Walkley and Conroy roads, in Ottawa South, on April 3. At least seven incidents of sign tampering were reported in that area, according to police.

Police would not specify which party’s signs were damaged.

“We are unable to specify which party reported the incidents as we cannot provide information about complainants,” police said.

Tampering with election signs can lead to obstruction of property and mischief charges, as well as possible hate-motivated charges, when appropriate.

The Ottawa Police Service encourages people to keep reporting any incidents of mischief to election signs to its Police Reporting Unit at 613-236-1222, extension 7300.

Election Day is April 28. The City of Ottawa says signs on both public and private property must be removed by 11:59 p.m. May 1, 72 hours after election day.