LAC LA BICHE — For candidates and their supporters preparing to disperse campaign signs for the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 18, there is now an additional bylaw they will have to follow when considering where they will place signs.
Rather than creating much change, the approved bylaw offers more clarity around what municipally owned lands can be used for election signage.
The bylaw authorizes election signs within municipal right of ways, referring to ditches and public boulevards, as long as long as signage does not interfere with sightlines of motorists and pedestrians or causes safety concerns.
However, campaign signs will remain prohibited from being placed on public roads, including shoulders and medians, any municipal property which is used as a park, playground or has a County facility on it, and on any physical road infrastructure including bridges, guardrails, retaining walls, concrete barriers, fire hydrants, or light poles.
This bylaw does not regulate the size of election signs or the placement of signs on private lawns and property, except to require the consent of the owner. Under this bylaw Peace Officers are authorized to remove signs that are in contravention of the outlined rules.
Melanie McConnell, the County’s associate CAO of the corporate services division, encourages all candidates to review the current legislation.
“There has been a tremendous amount of amendments in the legislation since the last general municipal election. I think it's really important to emphasize that it is up to the candidates or anyone working on behalf of the candidates to understand what the rules are,” said McConnell.
She also noted that the new bylaw does not regulate election signs on provincial roads as they fall under rules established by Alberta Transportation.
Municipal campaign signs cannot be placed more than six weeks prior to the date of the election and must be taken down within seven days following the vote.
