Dear editor:

Thanks residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake for the show of support with lawn signs in the recent federal election, regardless of your preference.

Many thanks to The Lake Report’s Kevin MacLean (“Opinion: Signs of times as election race comes down to wire,” April 24) for recognizing the work of the many volunteers installing election signs at the request of homeowners.

Kevin, I wish we knew of your fascination with election signs earlier, I could’ve organized a “ride around” like the police reporters do! You could’ve lived your dreams and installed a few signs, maybe on one of the days of challenge from Mother Nature this spring.

My team, the red sign team, was left to watch the incumbent blue team get a two-week running start with signs as they had a candidate, while we waited for our candidate to be green-lit and announced by the party before we could order and receive signs.

There was a flurry of sign activity all over the riding once the coveted election signs arrived.

My NOTL team was well informed of the NOTL bylaw 4586A-18 Section (2)(ii) “Election Signs – Provincial and Federal.” For those unfamiliar, the meat of the bylaw: Election signs are to be erected on private property, signs must be set back one metre from the property line and signs must be removed seven days after election day.

Pretty simple, or not.

Each residence has four or more property lines. If property line means frontage, it gets subjective. Who knows exactly where the “imaginary line, drawn many years ago with a ruler” is, to borrow a phrase?

If there’s a sidewalk, we have a demarcation point of reference; however, in Old Town and the Village, a metre in from the sidewalk could nearly be in somebody’s living room. I instructed my team of volunteers to consult with the homeowner when possible.

If the location was questionable and the homeowner maintains the area, then it’s “in play.” Often, we looked down the street to see where the blue team put their signs and copied that position. We did take some liberties when we wanted to get some visibility. Sorry.

Also, homeowners would say, “I’m having my lawn aerated, rolled or seeded, can you move the sign over there?” Or “not there, I have sprinklers or not the garden, please, the hostas are coming up.”

As volunteers, we put signs where they could be seen, often to have the homeowner move the sign while grass cutting and reinstall it elsewhere. We tried to be respectful, not like the often-derelict signs around that promote “fix your wet basement,” “power washing,” “driveway sealing” and many realtor signs. Election signs must be removed, not like the aforementioned. Personally, I think the red signs looked great, coaxing the spring tulips to show off.

As a seasoned sign guy, I believe the bylaw should be amended to include only residential and not commercial properties. Each eligible resident gets a single vote. Many commercial properties or building sites were covered with signage and, dare I say, over-signage. Elections Canada doesn’t allow business or corporate donations to candidates only from individuals due to the lopsided advantage, so why let a developer have 20 or 30 signs?

Lastly, to Susan (The Lake Report, “Letter: If candidates can’t follow election laws, how are they fit to lead?” May 8), candidates don’t micromanage the election sign installations: They’re far too busy canvassing, making calls, prepping, debating and meeting every business leader, clergy and service group that wants to discuss concerns and hear directly from the candidate.

The volunteers are trusted and empowered in this task. Linking the candidates to sign locations and the ability to lead doesn’t wash in the real world.

Ken I’Anson (“The Red Sign Guy”)
NOTL