Hearing set for petition against Surrey's new rules on political signs

Four months after members of the grassroots organization Keep the RCMP in Surrey filed a B.C. Supreme Court petitioncalling for the city to rescind amendments to its political signs bylaw, a hearing has been set for April 26 and 27.

Surrey city council voted in October 2021 to amend the sign bylaw, prohibiting anydisplay of political signs on private or public property until an election, referendum or plebiscite has officially been called.

Amendments alsoexpanded the definition of "political" to go beyond signs supporting a candidate or party, andinclude those expressing support or disapproval of a politician, and support or opposition to an issue at any level of government.

Signs saying "Keep theRCMP in Surrey"have adorned many lawns in the city, as the planned transition to a municipal police force a campaign promise of Mayor Doug McCallumhas becomeone of themost contentious issues in the city.

Coun. BrendaLocke has suggested it may have a connection to the sign bylaw, whose amendments McCallum and four other councillors have voted to support.

Calls to overturn ban, rescind amendments

In September last year, McCallum and four other councillors of the Safe Surrey Coalition voted to ban seven members of the Keep the RCMP in Surrey group fromattending city council and public meetings in personin a bid to "protect the democratic process." Those members were Annie Kaps, Debbie Johnstone, Colin Pronger, Ivan Scott, Merle Scott, Marilyn Smith and Linda Yependberg.

Critics slammed the move,with Coun. Linda Annissayingthe ban is more evidence of the mayor's "'my-way-or-the-highway'approach to city government."

A month later, in October, the city filed aSupreme Court petition to justify the group's barring from city council meetings.

On Dec. 14, 2021,six of the seven members of the Keep the RCMP in Surrey group responded with a Supreme Court petition seeking to overturn their ban fromcouncil meetings.

That same day, theyfiled a separate petition,calling for the courtto"strike down amendments to Surrey's sign by-law," which they described as unconstitutional.

A week later, the Safe Surrey Coalition agreed toremove the ban onthe seven individuals, however theydid not rescind the amendments to the sign bylaw.

In its response to the court, the city saidthe new rules "provided greater clarity in relation to the period during which political signs may be erected without a permit andclarified the definition of political signs."

The city also saidthe bylaw changes do not restrict or impairthe petitioners' right of freedom of expression.

CBC British Columbia has launched aSurreybureauto helptell your stories with reporterKiran Singh. Story ideas and tips can be sent tokiran.singh@cbc.ca.