Dear Editor:
With the provincial election just around the corner, the North Shore can once again look forward to the proliferation of election signs along public roadways from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove. Most of these signs will not reflect the sentiment of voters, but will rather display the ability of a candidate's election machine to denigrate North Shore communities in an effort to promote the party name.
In the City of Vancouver, things are very different. City bylaws state that the "Placement of election/political signage is regulated on City of Vancouver property. Such signage is not permitted on boulevards, (the area between a street and a sidewalk), roadway centre medians, poles, sidewalks, street furniture, public squares, and parks. Signs may be placed in front of a supporter's residence; however, the sign must be placed behind the sidewalk and not on the boulevard."
It seems on the North Shore that candidates would lead the electorate to believe that the more signs visible on public property, the more popular the candidate. How refreshing it would be if our municipalities could revise the sign bylaws to reflect those of the City of Vancouver. Election signs would be an expression of one's party affiliation at one's place of residence rather than a popularity contest promoted by the anonymous proliferation of election signs along North Shore roadways.
Tom Boppart North Vancouver
