Rebel News loses bid to quash fines for violating election law on third-party ads

The fines were imposed in 2021 after an investigation by the commissioner's office into lawn signs erected by Rebel News during the 2019 federal election campaign, ostensibly to promote a new book by Rebel founder Ezra Levant.

The elections commissioner concluded the lawn signs constituted election advertising since they were clearly intended to oppose a registered party and its leader in the midst of the campaign.

Rebel was fined $1,500 for failing to register as a third party during the campaign and another $1,500 for failing to include a legally required tag line on the lawn signs to identify who was behind them.