Updated Sept. 21:
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure officials in Victoria have confirmed for Coast Reporter that some campaign signs in the Sechelt area were removed earlier this week "that were blocking sight lines for drivers." The ministry's statement also said it "sends out a reminder of the guidelines to municipalities in advance of the election period."
The link to the MOTI online FAQ page, which includes the latest election sign policy is here.
Original story:
With the nomination deadline passed, campaign signs have been popping up like mushrooms after a spring rain – at least in the District of Sechelt.
The first appearance of election signs prompted concerns on social media and from some Coast Reporter readers that the candidates had their signs up too early.
Elections BC’s guide for candidates says only that local government sign bylaws apply and that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) “regulates sign placement along provincial highways, medians, bridges and along major roadways.”
The Ministry of Transportation (MOTI) issued two technical circulars to its staff and highway maintenance contractors this year regarding signs for the local government elections and the proportional representation referendum, but there’s no indication those memos were ever passed on to elections officers.
The first, on July 31, said municipal election signs could be placed on MOTI rights-of-way for a 36-day period leading up to voting day on Oct. 20. A follow-up issued Sept. 7 said signs could only be placed during the “campaign period” defined by Elections BC, and must come down one day after voting day. The campaign period starts Sept. 22.
The Sechelt candidates Coast Reporter contacted about having signs on what appeared to be MOTI rights-of-way earlier this week said the signs conformed to the rules set out by the District of Sechelt, and MOTI officials said they had no concerns about the signs beyond wanting to keep an eye on their placement to ensure they aren’t causing visibility issues or other safety concerns.
However, by Wednesday morning, highway maintenance contractor Capilano Highways said it had been directed by the ministry to remove any signs placed on the Highway 101 right-of-way before Sept. 22.
Sechelt’s sign bylaw does not restrict when a campaign sign can go up, but it does prohibit them on public property, including rights-of-way along district roads, and requires that they be removed within seven days of voting day.
Keen-eyed observers may have noticed that some of the signs that appeared in Sechelt this week urged people to “Vote Water” by supporting Allan Holt for mayor and incumbent Doug Wright for council. The signs are nearly identical and bear a familiar logo.
The logo belongs to Sechelt business owner George Goudie, who recently led a campaign to defeat a Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) long-term borrowing bylaw for water meter installations in Sechelt that was put to an Alternative Approval Process (AAP).
Goudie told Coast Reporter that by donating signs with his logo on them he’s hoping to encourage people who sided with him in the AAP campaign to back Holt and Wright in the municipal election.
Goudie, who was a registered third-party sponsor in the 2014 election and spent $3,000, said he’s not going that route this time and instead donated 60 signs to Holt and Wright because they’re willing to explore increasing the water supply by using Clowhom Lake as the main source.
“Sechelt’s going to take the lead on their own to get water and if the SCRD wants to come along with us, fine and dandy… I’m proud to support Allan Holt because he’s going to get it done, he’s going to get us water,” Goudie said.
In Gibsons, residents should expect a flurry of signs to go up on Sept. 22, which is the earliest the Town’s sign bylaw permits signs.
According to SCRD chief elections officer Angie Legault, the regional district does not have any specific regulations but does “encourage candidates to be mindful when placing them to ensure that traffic safety and sight lines aren’t impacted.” All SCRD roads are regulated by MOTI.
