Recently elected Brampton Coun. Charmaine Williams got herself in a little hot water with the city’s bylaw enforcement department after handing out lawn signs to residents, in violation of the city’s sign bylaw as part of her campaign against cannabis stores.

The signs at issue were part of Williams’ “Not in Our Hood” campaign, aimed at drumming up public support behind opting out of retail cannabis stores in Brampton and the GTA.

“I’m just going to bring up the elephant in the room, which is the recent cannabis signs that have been propping up in our neighbourhoods. It’s a black sign with a picture of a cannabis leaf and at the bottom of that sign it says … ‘Not in our (Neighbourhood),’” said wards 1 and 5 Coun. Rowena Santos during a Jan. 16 meeting of committee of council.

Interim chief administrative officer (CAO), Joe Pittari, told committee that bylaw officers had to remove several signs from residential properties around the city — including one from Williams’ own residence.

Williams tried to argue prohibiting and removing the signs violated free speech under the Canadian Charter of Human Rights Code, while tabling a motion to allow advocacy signs on private property.

“I’m bringing this forward because I’ve become aware from speaking with bylaw that our sign bylaw is conflict with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom,” she said.

However, the city’s solicitor and bylaw staff clarified the courts have to date ruled municipalities are permitted to impose such restrictions on private property, which is a common practice in all Ontario municipalities. Currently, Brampton’s bylaws only allow elections and real estate signs on residential property

“I am not aware of any municipalities that allow the type of signage on residential properties, in particular that which is being proposed with this potential amendment,” enforcement and bylaw services commissioner Peggy Wyger told council.

The motion was defeated by a 7-2 vote.The city added no bylaw charges have been laid but "investigations are ongoing."