Calgary

Alberta election 2015: too many campaign signs on Calgary streets, councillor says

Ward 5 Coun. Ray Jones says many of the political signs on Calgary streets are in violation of the city's election sign bylaw.

More than 300 political signs along 32nd Avenue N.E., says Coun. Ray Jones

Councillor Ray Jones, who represents Ward 5 in northeast Calgary, says there are hundreds of signs on 32 Avenue. (CBC)

Take a drive along any Calgary street and you'll likely spot a provincial election sign on someone's front lawn.

But not everyone is happy to see so many of them, so soon.

"I took a drive along 32nd Avenue [northeast] and counted upwards of 300 signs," Ward 5 Coun. Ray Jones told the Calgary Eyeopener on Wednesday.

Jones said most of the signs he saw were generic provincial NDP signs.

"It becomes litter. And they're unsightly because there are so many of them," he said.

Jones says 120 of the signs he counted were in violation of the city's election-sign bylaw, which prohibits politicians and supporters from sticking signs in the following areas:

  • Traffic islands or centre medians.
  • Street light poles or traffic poles. 
  • Closer than 30 metres to any intersection.
  • Closer than two metres from the curb or edge of the road.
  • Within a plus-15 bridge.
  • Within 10 metres of a crosswalk that is not at an intersection.

The bylaw also prohibits election signs from being supported by a "string, rope, metal stakes or wire."

In advance of the May 5 Alberta election, Jones says he would like to see more candidates handing out brochures and meeting people face to face.

"It's called door-knocking. If you can't sell yourself to the people at the door, then too bad."