Updated rules aim to reduce clutter and clarify enforcement, according to Smiths Falls council
SMITHS FALLS — Smiths Falls council has moved to rein in election signage ahead of the 2026 municipal election, approving updated rules aimed at preventing a patchwork of campaign signs across town.
Council gave direction at its Feb. 23 committee of the whole meeting to proceed with updates to the town’s Election Signage Policy, clearing up lingering questions about when signs can go up and how non compliant signage will be handled.
The decision followed a report from clerk Kerry Costello, after questions were raised earlier this month about which election signage rules had been in effect during the last municipal vote.
“Some of that information came to light, so I’m bringing this forward again,” Costello told council. “I went back into my reports, and I couldn’t find it there, but I went back into the minutes, and it was a subject that you had indeed brought up in 2022 and was implemented and in effect for 2022.”
Costello asked council to provide direction on two outstanding issues: whether election signage should be permitted starting on nomination day or Labour Day, and whether bylaw officers should remove non compliant signs immediately or give candidates time to do so.
Nomination day for the 2026 municipal election falls on Aug. 21, while Labour Day is Sept. 7.
Coun. Chris McGuire said Labour Day remained the preferred option, citing practical reasons from the previous election.
“I still prefer Labour Day,” McGuire said. “The first was that it’s outside of the peak tourist season, so we’re not cluttering the town with signs during the summer. The second is that every time there’s a storm that goes through, they get blown around. And the third was there’s a cost associated with bylaw enforcement.”
On enforcement, council debated whether bylaw officers should remove improperly placed signs immediately or first contact candidates and allow time for removal.
“If they removed the signs that are non compliant, and there’s a $5 fine to get them back from the town to help cover enforcement costs, then that gives a disincentive to put them where they’re not supposed to be,” McGuire said. “I don’t like the idea of destroying them, but I don’t like the idea of leaving them up either.”
Mayor Shawn Pankow favoured giving candidates responsibility to correct issues themselves, where possible.
“I just try to minimize the work of bylaw, knowing that they’re busy with a lot of other things,” Pankow said. “If a quick call to a candidate says your sign is here and it’s not supposed to be, come and get it. If it’s still here at the same time tomorrow, we will pick them up and destroy them. Put the onus on the candidate.”
Council ultimately agreed that candidates should be notified and given 24 hours to remove non compliant signs, with bylaw officers stepping in if necessary.
“If it’s impeding traffic or pedestrian traffic, that’s different,” Costello noted, adding that unsafe signs would require faster action.
Council confirmed that election signs will be permitted only after Labour Day and directed staff to update the policy accordingly, including clearer enforcement timelines.
Staff confirmed there are no financial implications tied to the updated Election Signage Policy, which is governed by the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.
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