York Region will not be taking action against candidates in the Federal Election who may have broken the by-law that regulates election signs – where they can go up and when.  

Conservative candidate, Lois Brown, had erected signs on Regional Roads which clearly flouted the rules. During the election she was forced to remove a number of them. The Liberal turned Conservative MP for Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill, Leona Alleslev, also put signs on Regional roads before 23 September 2019, after which date signs were permitted.

The Region says there is no by-law review scheduled which rather surprises me given the by law was widely ignored by the Conservatives. The Region says it:

“addressed non-compliant signage that was a safety issue and did not lay any charges.”

Local municipalities can also enforce the election signs by-law.

Penalty

After last year’s municipal election in Newmarket, the newly elected York Regional Councillor, Tom Vegh, incurred a sign penalty from the Town of $1,995.69. Vegh’s Financial Statement and Auditor’s Report filed on 27 March 2019 shows that he spent $11,472.30 on election signs (including the sign deposit) during the campaign. This is just under half the amount spent on brochures and flyers ($25,359.68).

Seems to me there is probably a case for the Region and Town doing an automatic formal review after all elections. It would keep candidates – and their campaign managers – from believing that by-laws are made to be broken and hang the consequences.

Gordon.prentice@shrinkslessorsquare.ca

From the window display in the Comic Store in Newmarket's Main Street South. Their take on Tom: