On Sept. 25, around an hour after Roy Roope had set up some third-party election signs in Summerland, the signs were taken down.
ѻýMy signs were on a third party issue and I am registered with Local Elections Financing Act and have complete, documentation, registration with Elections BC, my signs had the information of my name, email, and Local Elections Financing Act registration,ѻý he said. ѻýI have the full legal right to display these signs and removal was illegal.ѻý
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One of the signs read, ѻýElect a pro-taxpayer council.ѻý Another stated, ѻýVote this tax and spend council out.ѻý
Both signs also included Roopeѻýs name and the community where he lives.
Roope was later contacted by Dan Maja, a Summerland bylaw enforcement officer, about the removal of the signs. On the Monday morning, he was told he could claim his signs at Summerlandѻýs municipal hall.
Maja said under the elections act, third-party election signs may have policy-related messaged, but not personal opinions.
He said he wanted clarification about whether the message in Roopeѻýs signs was allowed under the elections act.
ѻýI just want to make sure all the campaign rules are being followed,ѻý he said.
In addition, there are regulations affecting the placement of election signs. In early 2022, Summerland council passed a bylaw prohibiting election signs along Main Street and along the portion of Victoria Road between Wharton Street and Jubilee Street.
However, Roope said the incident was a case of sign interference.
ѻýThey are denying my rights,ѻý he said.
Roope later contacted the RCMP and the signs have now been returned to him. They can be seen at the intersection of Highway 97 and Rosedale Avenue in Summerland.
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