Changes to the municipal act may mean a change of view for this year’s municipal elections. More specifically, the view of the boulevards and front yards where election signs are put up.
Bill 181, known as the Municipal Elections Modernization Act, includes a new policy to allow third-party advertisers in municipal elections. While third party advertisers such as advocacy groups are common in provincial and federal elections, it’s new territory for municipal elections. The clerk and her deputy are suggesting council allow staff to hold a public consultation with public notices to receive feedback before finalizing the town’s policies on third-party advertising during local elections.
The basics of the rules for third-party advertisers will be the same when it comes to election signs. The advertiser must register with the clerk and pay a $200 deposit, which is used if staff has to remove signs due to any non-compliance. The advertiser is given 50 stickers to be put on any signs that are on public property. Signs can be no bigger than one square metre.
There are no stickers required for private property signs, but they must only be put there with the property owner’s consent, and any sign from a candidate or third-party advertiser on private property may not be larger than .56 meters squared.
Deputy Clerk Becky Dahl, said part of the process to be undertaken before the election campaigning begins is to determine a minimum distance separation between signs. An advertiser can campaign for or against any candidate, without a separation rule, there’s a possibility of one group obstructing another’s signs.
“We don’t want to see that kind of war start,” said Dahl.
The motion to put this matter to public consultation is before the Corporate and Community Services Standing Committee tonight (May 5) at 5 p.m.
