The federal election campaign is into week four and most candidates have been knocking on doors and putting up signs, but concerns are being raised about the placement of some signs in Fredericton.
“We’ve had a couple complaints, I guess, if you want to call them that, in the last couple of days where people have pointed out to us signs that have been located in places where motorists are finding it hard to see,” says Wayne Knorr, a spokesperson for the City of Fredericton.
Some motorists have complained that a sign promoting Liberal candidate Matt DeCourcey is blocking the view of oncoming traffic trying to merge onto a former section of the Trans-Canada Highway. But once an election sign goes up, it can’t be taken down by just anyone.
The Elections Act states that “no person shall prevent or impair the transmission to the public of an election advertising message.”
The same section does permit “the removal by an employee of a public authority of a sign, poster or banner where the posting of it is a hazard to public safety.”
“You really are looking for high, drive-by traffic areas, and where there’s high visibility and right-of-ways effectively,” says Daniel Leger, DeCourcey’s campaign manager.
Leger says volunteers should use common sense with placing signs, with public safety in mind.
“We certainly don’t want to turn what is to be a positive into a negative, and we want drivers to be able to see, and for people to primarily be safe,” says Leger.
He says his campaign hasn’t received any complaints through official channels, but will work quickly to correct any problem.
“If there is a complaint we try to address it,” says Leger. “Certainly, if there’s something that’s been identified by us with a provincial or municipal enforcement officer, we make every effort to correct it immediately.”
“Usually the candidates involved are very good and very quickly they come and they relocate the signs to some place that’s much safer and improves sightlines,” says Knorr.
Despite concerns, the city says DeCourcey’s sign can stay where it is.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Andy Campbell
