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.