Ottawa's mayor is at the centre of a legal case that could prompt politicians all across the country to reconsider their use of social media.
Three city residents are seeking a court order declaring that Jim Watson infringed on their constitutional right to freedom of expression by blocking them from his Twitter feed.
Watson says it's his personal Twitter account, and he has the right to decide who can see his tweets or comment on them.
But Paul Champ, the lawyer representing the trio, says Watson uses his Twitter account to communicate with Ottawans about municipal issues, so blocking people is ``undemocratic.''
The case -- the first of its kind in Canada -- is scheduled to be heard Jan. 31 in Ontario Superior Court.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens went through something similar back in May when he blocked a Windsor resident.
After a complaint was filed with the integrity commissioner, Dilkens ended the block.
The integrity commissioner deemed that an 'appropriate informal settlement' and the case was closed.