Surrey First signs were installed along city streets Thursday, which had their chief challenger Barinder Rasode crying foul, as city guidelines state the advertising can’t go up until after Oct. 10.
SURREY — Opponents of Surrey First, which is flush with cash but weak in support, say the party clearly broke election rules laid down by the city that says election signs can’t be put up until the nomination period closes, which was supposed to be Friday, the final day to put in your nomination to run for mayor, council or school-parks board.
Mayoral candidate Barinder Rasode was angry after seeing Surrey First election signage up before city guidelines state they can be installed.
Rasode said she received a number of calls from residents about the Surrey First signs on Thursday. She sees the advertising as a “blatant disregard” for the rules and believes it gives the party an unfair advantage, reported the Now newspaper.
Surrey’s Political Sign Removal Guidelines state signage may be erected after the close of nomination period, which was set for Oct. 10 this year.
But in Surrey’s Sign Bylaw #13656, there’s no mention of the date the signs are allowed to go up. It does say signs are to be removed within 14 days following the election.
Jane Sullivan, Surrey’s city clerk, said in an email that the guidelines are “recommendations.”
Sullivan was aware signs were going up Thursday but said, “however as this is not in contradiction to legislation nor a bylaw infraction, they would not be removed.”
When contacted, Surrey First said it was the team’s understanding the rules were guidelines.
White Rock’s sign bylaw states no municipal sign can be displayed for more than 30 days before the date of the election.
In Delta, the bylaw states signs are not to go up prior to Oct. 16 for this year’s election.
Provincially, the election proceedings period runs from Sept. 30 to Nov. 15 this year, and rules in relation to advertising in the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act come into effect during that period.
Voting day is Nov. 15.
