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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, February 13, 2015 | 16 JCRA weighs in on upcoming debate over election sign ban on public property Re: Feb. 23 Town Council motion to ban election signs on public property The Joshua Creek Residents Association (JCRA) board is concerned Town Council is again considering banning election signs on public property. We recognize for four to five weeks last fall, Ford Drive was sign-crazy. We had the largest number of candidates of all the wards. However, we believe, for the short period of time signs are allowed, they spark us all to do our research; get out to vote and celebrate our right to choose public representation. It is also troubling this motion is coming forward without public consultation. Incumbents have the private property sign advantage. We are deeply concerned banning elections signs on public property creates an advantage to incumbents, who have resident email lists not available to others and often a strong and established social media presence, which a new candidate may not. Incumbents can quickly and easily dominate the private property signage through contacting their lists. Eliminating public signs for the short period they are allowed is simply unfair. Why public property? Elections are a public matter. They are a core part of who we are as Canadians. Public space is our space. Elections signs, within reason, belong in the public domain. How does a new candidate build name recognition? Election signs on public lands allow new candidates to build name recognition while allowing incumbents fair access to the same public space. Building name recognition is critical for newcomers as they campaign doorto-door and ask homeowners for their support. Posting an election sign serves as notice to us all they are interested in serving the public good. Do signs make a difference? Signs start the name recognition process, particularly in municipal elections. If advertising your name/business was not effective, why are people paying the Town to advertise on the medians? Signs take time and money to manage. Signs cost less than newspaper advertising. Candidates expect to have signs as part of their campaign costs. Signs do not distract candidates from engaging with residents as they are generally put up after daily door knocking is done What about social media? Of course, but public elections belong in the public forum, visible to all, not just those who are tech-savvy and have readily available online access. What about the environment? Parts of election signs are recyclable. What about the number of signs? Putting limits on the number of signs to something more reasonable is worth exploring, including limiting the number on a thoroughfare, but banning signs is extreme. Bylaw enforcement of signs costs. There are fines for violating the bylaw and they help reduce the administrative costs of bylaw enforcement. Of the many costs we incur as a town, supporting democracy should be one of them. What are other towns doing? Some say our neighbours in Mississauga and Burlington have banned signs on public property. Halton Region now has a bylaw banning signs on its roads. This will significantly reduce the visibility of elections in our town. Unfortunately, this decision was made at the last Regional council meeting prior to the October election with no public consultation. The change is effective the next election. Numerous other towns and countries continue to celebrate and support the election process Letter to the Editor through allowing signs on public property, including Ottawa and Toronto. What is the harm to us as residents of having election signs? Yes, they can be messy for four to five weeks of an election and need to be managed. Banning signs is extreme: let's look for solutions that support democracy and fairness. Is there not greater harm to the democratic election process by eliminating the visibility of elections within our neighbourhoods? At a time when voter turnout is not what it should be, should we make elections less visible? Do we want to discourage potential candidates by giving incumbents an even greater advantage? We should be broadening our democracy, not narrowing it. JCRA does not support the proposed motion to ban election signs on public property. We hope for the few weeks we have elections, residents will agree such a ban is going too far. Let's find a solution that focuses on what truly matters: fair, visible elections. Janet Haslett-Theall, Joshua Creek Residents Association, Oakville Br okHo o Take 10 Minutes With God Each Day And Change Your Whole Outlook for Cabinetry a divisIon of unique since 1976 4150 South Service Rd. · 905-632-0029 · uniquekitchensofburlington.com Come see why we have been voted best optiCal stoRe sinCe 1994! Oakville's experts in eye Care: Denise pala, niCky pala & mike mCGrath Designer lenses: nikOn, Zeiss, essilOr CriZAl kODAk AnD mOre Family Owned & Operated Optical A Name You Can Trust! 125 Cross Avenue, Oakville www.spaceoptical.ca · 905-842-2821 (Across from Home Depot) Space e us Brookhouse Cabinetry would like to introduce our high quality, lacquer finish vanities with furniture style legs, granite counter tops and undermount porcelain bowls. Our vanities come fully assembled and are proudly made in Canada. 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