Fort Erie says no to new election sign bylaw

Fearing its potential effects on would-be council candidates, Fort Erie councillors have voted down a staff recommendation to implement new election campaign sign rules.

The major concern at Monday night’s council-in-committee meeting seemed to revolve around a proposal to force candidates to apply for permits to put up election signs. Existing rules say signs can be put up freely so long as they meet certain guidelines.

“I’m not thinking we should be making running for public office more difficult than it is already,” said Mayor Wayne Redekop, adding he didn’t support the idea of having a deposit required to ensure rules were followed.

The recommendations stem from a subcommittee created by Niagara CAOs and clerks following the 2022 municipal elections that looked at ways to make things more efficient and consistent from one town or city to the next.

One issue identified in a report from the subcommittee was with election sign bylaws, where local municipalities have a hodgepodge of different rules.

“To address these inconsistencies, the subcommittee developed a model election sign bylaw, with the goal of having each municipality adopt the framework to provide a consistent approach for candidates at all levels of government across the Niagara region,” the report said.

However, that goal will not be reached. While councillors said they appreciated the work of the local clerk, Peter Todd, who is on the subcommittee, the new bylaw appeared to be a solution in search of a problem in Fort Erie.

“I always look at things that if it’s not broken, it doesn’t need to be fixed,” said Councillor George McDermott.

The sign permitting process was arguably the biggest change proposed. The report also recommended a requirement that signs come down two days following an election instead of a previous five-day time frame. Other proposed changes involved new size and placement requirements, and a new cost recovery model for instances when the town has to remove signs.

Councillor Joan Christensen said municipalities like Fort Erie need to offer the flexibility to promote democracy.

“It may be a little messier but I really believe we owe it to the concept of democracy in this day and age to be very, very careful and considerate about intensifying the onus that’s being put on people who are willing to come forward and put their names on a ballot,” she said.

The next municipal elections are now less than a year away. They’re set to take place October 26, 2026.

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