Vaughan considers restrictions on election campaign signs

YorkRegion.com
Feb. 27, 2014
By Adam Martin-Robbins

Few things get people as riled up during election campaigns as much as candidates’ signs do.

People complain that the hordes of multi-coloured plastic signs lining city streets are an eyesore.

They complain that the tightly packed clusters of signs at street corners obscure sightlines, making intersections unsafe.

And, inevitably, some political hopefuls flout the rules and stick signs in all sorts of places where they’re not allowed, sparking outrage from their competitors.

Some of the complaints aren’t without merit.

In fact, during the 2010 municipal election, city and regional staff pulled down 15,497 improperly erected signs.

Now, the city is considering changing the rules in order to improve enforcement and try to create a “level the playing field".

The proposed changes include:

- limiting the size of signs to 1.49 sq. m, down from 5 sq. m;
- restricting the period during which signs can be erected to six weeks prior to voting day, as opposed to following the close of nominations;
- requiring signs to be pulled down within 72 hours after voting day, up from 48 hours and;
- allowing one sign per candidate on each private property.

Concord resident Kevin Hanit chimed in at Tuesday’s committee of the whole meeting to recommend some other changes.

He suggested, among other things, only allowing candidates to put up one sign at their campaign headquarters; only permitting small lawn signs on residential properties and banning signs from being posted on fences.

The matter will go before the March 18 council meeting for further consideration.