Quesnel, B.C. – A bylaw that would limit the number of political signs during election campaigns on public land is one step closer to reality in Quesnel.

The ball got rolling last month when city council asked staff to bring back a political campaign sign bylaw on the matter. Last week council gave the bylaw first reading.

According to the city regulations, the bylaw will:

• Create equal opportunity for all candidates
• Maintain community aesthetics
• Promote environmental sustainability
• Reduce administrative burden and costs
• Reduce campaign workload and potential conflict

The proposed bylaw would allow for six political campaign signs per candidate and will require candidates to remove political campaign signs three days after voting day.

Council has recommended public consultation with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, the Quesnel School District, affected riding parties, Elections BC, Elections Canada and the general public.

Councillor Laurey-Anne Roodenburg won’t be going public with her opinion until after public consultation is complete but describes the feedback she’s heard on the bylaw as “mixed.”

“I mean if I were to look at what’s being said on Facebook around the various Facebook rooms that talk a lot about the city stuff, they’re probably more for it,” she says.

“And I guess that’s why we want to make sure that we hear from the entire community because it does affect the other levels of government.”

Mayor Bob Simpson told 250News last month that Quesnel would be one of the first B.C. communities to enact such a law.

“Whistler’s municipal candidates did it voluntarily in that last election in their downtown core and they’re looking about how they might formalize that. Terrace is actually putting in a bit of a restrictive sign bylaw we looked at as well.”

So how did this issue get raised in the first place?

“It was precipitated by the fact we had community members saying you’re looking at sign bylaws for businesses, perhaps you should be looking at your own signage,” says Roodenburg.

“Because it’s that month there that drives everybody nuts with all the signs around town.”