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= NEWS PUBLIC CONSULTATION SOUGHT ON — DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com The majority of Oakville coun- hi led for public consulta- 3 tions to help them consider a mo- tion that would ban election signs from public property. Th otion, which was dis- cussed during the Monday, Jan. 80 council meeting, was brought forward by Ward 1 Town and Re- gional Coun. Sean O'Meara and Ward 7 Town and Regional Coun. Nav Nanda. It called for the signs to be banned noting they hurt the envi- ronment, distract drivers and tie up staff time © correcting endless bylaw infract The tion also pointed out that Burlington, election signs on public proper- ty, motion also called for the banning of election signs on pri- vate property without the per- mission of the property owner and the banning of election signs deemed to be in a state of disrepair. “What I cannot believe is that we are a better democracy or more democratic than Burling- ton, Mississauga, Guelph, Kings- ton, Waterloo, etc. ... because we allow sign polluti i ‘PROPOSED ELECTION SIGN BAN ter democracy.” deral Conservative candi Fe i- date of record for Oakville crucial for raising awareness among residents of upcoming elections and candidates in the running. She worried that if the motion was passed, it would critically af- fect public rights-of-way and do not imit them to private property," O'Meara following the aa are “eaership me ‘hey are met Brampton and the > Region of. Hal- tonhavea your opponent to plaster signs al over si inte on the public right-of-way. In addition to iti sections. its a waste of taxpayer money deliver a'bet- A PLACE,TO insidehalton.com JOIN US FOR A 4s°Nomci WINTER STAY Glen Abbey Inspired Retirement Living™ 1459 NOTTINGHILL GATE Ricken also disputed the idea that having more money to put up more signs gives some an unfair advantage, mone put ting up election s: thing all parties andi individuals can do. When asked by Ward 7 Coun. Scott Xie about using other methods such as door knocking or social media to get her name out there, Rizkalla argued that Y Single-Serve Entrées 275g-340g every method counts and re- moving one method, like elec- tion signs, would impact the out- me of an election. Representatives ‘of the Josh- ua Creek Residents’ Associa- tion, the Oakville Lakeside Resi- ssociation, the Trafal- aon Chartwell Residents’ Asso- ciation, the Chartwell Maple Grove Residents ‘Association Association all voiced their opposition to the ban be- fore council. “Why do we need signs on public property? Because elec- tions are a public matter," said Elizabeth Chalmers of the Josh- ua Creek Residents' Associa- tion. “Transparency, fairness and equity are core to our democratic system. The public space is our space, and so election signage, within reason, belongs in the public dom: She argued incumbents would have an advantage if election signs were only permitted on pri- vate property and noted election signs are no more distracting to drivers than the other signs driv- ers see on a daily basis. each ALL PRICES IN EFFECT Bias ‘halmers also suggested al- ternatives to a ban. These included: limiting the number of signs a candidate can place on public property, reduc- ing the period elections signs can be displayed for and increas- ing fines for those guilty of elec- ton sign bylaw infractions. leara challenged the idea that banning the signs on public property would help incum- ents and pointed to the Bur- lington 2018 election where six of seven incumbents were voted out of office despite election signs on public property being banned ther: Yollowing ‘the council meet- ing, he also argued the signs do nothing to promote democratic fairness, notin; per cent of the allowable ible road space for signs is in Ward 1, 2and 3. Kerry Colborne, the Federal Conservative candidate of record for Oakville, noted voter turnout is already dismal, particularly for municipal elections, and said the town should not do anything that might make those numbers See ALTERNATIVE, page 10 449. Dee Dish Pie UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED. E1@& mmfoodmarket.com adhion sre oe bership card, nate or once, to tk advantage of eee excuse ofere, ME Food Matt Express and other ron at ‘We fherigtt