With the provincial election less than two months away, every piece of empty land across B.C. will soon be filled with election signs.
That害羞草研究所檚 except if you live in Quesnel. The city was in the middle of completely rebranding itself last July when officials decided to tackle the unsightly lawn signs for last fall害羞草研究所檚 federal election.
害羞草研究所淭here was a candidate who put up signs about 18 inches apart with a story that he was telling about why you should vote for him,害羞草研究所� said Mayor Bob Simpson. City hall was flooded with complaints.
害羞草研究所淓verybody is regulated (on the use of lawn signs) except for politicians,害羞草研究所� said Simpson. 害羞草研究所淧eople can害羞草研究所檛 use public space to promote their businesses, to promote their garage sales, etc., without restrictions.害羞草研究所�
There should be no election signs in public spaces;or even better no signs at all. Elections create visual pollution
害羞草研究所� joan russow (@drjoanrussow)
So the city of just under 10,000 people got to work.
害羞草研究所淐ouncil believes that six double-sided signs, strategically placed, in the city is sufficient to get the word out,害羞草研究所� said Simpson.
The restrictions in Quesnel only apply to public property: As long as a resident allows it, candidates are allowed to place as many signs as they like on private property.
To Simpson, that puts the focus on candidates connecting with people and not on how many signs they can afford.
害羞草研究所淚 think this allows campaigns to concentrate on the things that matter: door-knocking and policy instead of having sign wars with each other and complaining that so-and-so is vandalizing so-and-so害羞草研究所檚 sign.害羞草研究所�
Police are responding to Victoria Dr & E 45 Ave for reports of a male cutting down Conservative Election signs.
害羞草研究所� ScanBC (@ScanBC)
Quesnel isn害羞草研究所檛 the only city to limit the number of signs.
Terrace, with just over 11,000 people, limited candidates to 30 signs each about a year ago.
害羞草研究所淒uring previous elections, there was a proliferation of election signs in public parks, along roadways, and they were becoming a visual distraction,害羞草研究所� said Terrace senior city planner Ken Newman. 害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 limit the number of signs on private property. If you害羞草研究所檙e a resident of 1234 Apple St., you can put up 10 signs on your property if you want.害羞草研究所�
Fielding many election concerns from KYians, esp re campaign signs too near polling places & in median. (Lex KY)
害羞草研究所� KFTC (@kftc)
Some municipalities, meanwhile, have allowed for more election signs than fewer over the years. During B.C.害羞草研究所檚 2014 municipal election, Port Alberni decided to relax its sign bylaws to allow signs on boulevards 害羞草研究所渁s long as the signs do not create a safety concern.害羞草研究所�
In the Lower Mainland, cities are leaving it up to the candidates.
City of Surrey spokesman Oliver Lum said it hasn害羞草研究所檛 been a topic of much discussion.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just certain areas that the signs just get illegally set up,害羞草研究所� said Lum. 害羞草研究所淏oulevards with a left-turn lane and the approach to Pattullo Bridge害羞草研究所� obviously you can害羞草研究所檛 have them there.害羞草研究所�
Surrey, like most cities, does restrict the size and placement of election signs, citing safety concerns.
Perhaps with good reason: large, inappropriately placed election signs were the suspected cause of a 2014 accident in Abbotsford where a pedestrian suffered life-threatening injuries after being struck by a car.
Chilliwack councillors, who debated the issue back in 2013, also chose not to curb signs.
害羞草研究所淲e have 100 square miles of community and it害羞草研究所檚 very hard if we limit it too greatly,害羞草研究所� said Mayor Sharon Gaetz. She thinks common sense from candidates, and how voters react, will keep the landscape fairly clear.
害羞草研究所淢ost savvy politicians depends on other means, social media and traditional media, to get the word out,害羞草研究所� she said.
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