NOTICE: Tampering with Election Signs is Illegal

Stealing, Damaging, or Destroying Campaign Signs Subject to Criminal Charges and Municipal Penalties

I have observed that several of my official campaign signs—legally placed on Town-designated arterial roads including Third Line, North Service Road, Proudfoot Trail, and Fourth Line—have been repeatedly damaged, removed, or destroyed by intentional acts of vandalism.

In Canada, stealing, vandalizing, or tampering with legally placed election signs is a federal crime and a violation of municipal by-laws.

1. Criminal Penalties (Criminal Code of Canada)

Damaging, stealing, or removing election signs constitutes Mischief under Section 430(4) of the Criminal Code of Canada:

Legal Classification: Mischief in relation to property is a hybrid offence prosecuted either summarily or by indictment.

Penalties: Penalties upon conviction include court-ordered fines, probation, or imprisonment for up to 2 years less a day (summary prosecution) or 2 years (prosecution by indictment).

Criminal Record & Restitution: A conviction results in a permanent criminal record. Courts typically order offenders to pay full monetary restitution to reimburse the campaign for destroyed property.

2. Municipal & By-law Consequences (Town of Oakville)

Under Oakville’s Sign By-law, only authorized Municipal Enforcement Services (MES) staff have the legal authority to inspect, impound, or remove election signs. Private citizens who illegally remove or vandalize compliant campaign signs along public road allowances face:

Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs): Monetary fines issued under the Town of Oakville’s administrative penalty system for illegal interference with property on public road allowances.

Property Claims: Financial liability for damages inflicted on public right-of-way property.

Enforcement & Monitoring Action

Our campaign volunteers are actively inspecting and monitoring all sign locations across Ward 4. Every instance of damaged or stolen signage is being photographically documented and will be reported to the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) for criminal investigation. HRPS takes election sign tampering seriously throughout the campaign period.

Additionally, all incidents will be logged and reported to Oakville Municipal Enforcement Services (enforcement@oakville.ca) to address unauthorized interference along town arterial corridors.

On August 29, 2026, residents and guests of Ward 4 in Oakville gathered at the Glen Abbey Community Centre to witness Hutchison Lee officially announce his candidacy for Town and Regional Councillor for Ward 4, Oakville.

From Legal Practice to Public Service

Hutchison Lee has practiced corporate and commercial law for over 25 years, including more than 7 years practicing in Ontario. For the past 12 years, he and his family have lived in Oakville’s Ward 4, developing a deep understanding and appreciation of community growth and the daily concerns of residents.

Lee stated that his candidacy is not a sudden career change, but a natural progression to bring his decades of professional experience, community involvement, and complex problem-solving skills into broader public service.

Action Started Before the Campaign

Lee’s community service did not begin with this election. Prior to officially announcing his candidacy, he had been actively engaged in Ward 4 community affairs for years:

  • Restoring Local Trails: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lee noticed that key local trails were flooded, muddy, and impassable. He proactively reached out to town officials, inspected damaged areas alongside municipal service managers, marked repair locations, and urged the Town to complete repairs quickly—allowing Ward 4 residents to enjoy outdoor recreational spaces during the pandemic.

From Senior Lawyer to Community Leader: Hutchison Lee Officially Announces Candidacy for Oakville Ward 4 Town and Regional Councillor

Experience You Can Trust. Action You Can See. Leadership for Ward 4.

Figure 1: Hutchison Lee speaking at his campaign launch event.

Figure 2: Map submitted by Hutchison Lee to the Town showing marked trail repair locations during the pandemic.

  • Protecting Green Spaces: As an active participant in local park and trail cleanups, Lee remains dedicated to protecting the local natural environment and promises to continue advocating for green space preservation regardless of the election outcome.

Figure 3: Hutchison Lee playing tennis at a community court with his wife and daughter.

  • Advocating for Community Safety: Facing rising auto thefts and home invasions between 2023 and 2024, Lee brought resident concerns directly to relevant meetings and government dialogues, offering actionable recommendations to improve safety. Through collaborative community effort, local crime dropped significantly. This experience reinforced his belief that true leadership means stepping forward, turning concerns into action, and pushing issues through to resolution.

  • Promoting Year-Round Recreational Facilities: In June 2024, Lee gathered resident signatures urging the Town to extend winter opening hours for outdoor tennis courts. While the Town noted resource constraints limited winter access to one court in Ward 4, Lee pledges to continue advocating for extended hours, more winter court access, and multi-purpose indoor sports facilities.

Figure 4: Hutchison Lee cleaning up trash along Oakville roads and trails with community residents.

  • Supporting Local Non-Profits: Over the past 7+ years, Lee has served as legal counsel and board member for over ten non-profit and charitable organizations on a pro bono basis. He proudly noted that an Oakville non-profit he provided free legal service to has grown steadily into an influential organization advocating for multiculturalism.

Figure 5: Professor Wang from the Centre for New Immigrant Well-being (CNIW) presenting Hutchison Lee with the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Award in recognition of his outstanding community service.

Community Guests Witness the Launch

Distinguished community leaders and guests attended and delivered warm speeches of support, including Dr. Scott Xie (Ward 7 Councillor Candidate), Ward 4 resident representatives Lord Christopher and Brett Liu, Lee's longtime friend Lawyer Haiyun Wang, and Ward 4 School Board Trustee Candidate Ira Davidov (who also served as MC). Ward 3 Councillor Candidate Jen Zhou also attended to lend her support.

Figure 7: Hutchison Lee photographed with guest speakers and event host Ira Davidov.

From Eric Liddell’s Legacy to Public Service

In his speech, Lee cited the legacy of Olympic champion Eric Liddell, speaking of his principles, integrity, service, dedication, passion, and compassion.

"I hope to follow in Eric Liddell’s footsteps, bringing that same spirit of dedication to serving the Oakville community."

He emphasized:

"Effective leadership isn't about just showing up during campaign season or posing for ribbon-cutting photos—it's about taking action you can see and delivering real results."

Figure 6: Special guest Ms. Patricia Liddell-Russell (daughter of Olympic champion and humanitarian Eric Liddell) attending the launch event on August 29 to support Hutchison Lee.

About Hutchison Lee

Hutchison Lee is a practicing lawyer in Ontario, Canada, with over 25 years of legal experience in corporate and commercial law (including over 7 years in Ontario). He has resided in Oakville Ward 4 with his family for the past 12 years. He has long been engaged in community service and provides pro bono and low-cost legal services to non-profit organizations.

In the upcoming 2026 Ontario Municipal Election, Hutchison Lee is running as candidate for Town and Regional Councillor for Ward 4, Oakville.

Campaign Contact:

Figure 8: Hutchison Lee photographed with community residents and guests.

Five Core Campaign Priorities: Delivering Practical Community Service

  1. Accessible & Accountable Representation: Committing to responding to resident inquiries within two business days and escalating municipal service issues to Town or Regional staff within seven business days.

  2. Regular Resident Town Halls: Hosting regular community meetings to keep residents informed on Town and Regional Council decisions, listen to their concerns, and gather direct feedback on community improvements.

  3. Protecting Community Character & Environment: Safeguarding Ward 4 green spaces and opposing high-density development projects that place excessive pressure on local infrastructure.

  4. Fiscal Responsibility: Advocating for low, inflation-aligned property taxes while promoting transparency and financial accountability in municipal spending.

  5. A Strong Voice: Actively advocating for Ward 4 residents at the Town, Regional, Provincial, and Federal levels.

Approximately 50 residents and guests attended the launch event. Lee invites all Ward 4 residents to engage with the campaign and share their thoughts, concerns, and suggestions.

Figure 9: Hutchison Lee speaking directly with a local resident.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE