WARMINGTON: Election sign war tactic in York Centre not a violation – or is it?

These were definitely signs of the times.

Sign, sign everywhere a sign – except no longer at the corner of Keele St. and Wilson Ave.

As reported in my Saturday column, it seems Conservative candidate Roman Baber’s blue election sign on a lawn in the York Centre riding was crowded out by four red Liberal incumbent Ya’ara Saks signs.

It was so effective that from most angles, you could not even see Baber’s sign.

When I first had photos sent to me, I didn’t immediately hear back from anyone directly involved. But one election insider said there was technically nothing wrong with it.

Turns out the City of Toronto has a bylaw that states, “If more than one sign (is) displayed at a location, each sign must be at least one metre apart, unless approved by the property owner/when placed on private property” or “the property owner/occupant of the abutting property when placed on public property.”

So what was this a violation?

As usual, there is debate because things are up for interpretation. Was this on private property or part of the public access area?

A read of City of Toronto rules it’s unclear.

But the city official who was asked to investigate it took no chances.

“Toronto City Bylaw came by … and took all the signs down, even Roman’s.”

Now, as small of a story as this may seem, it actually offers a glimpse into just how tough this federal election is – not just at the Prime Minister Mark Carney and Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre level, but at the local level.

Here you have cabinet minister, Saks, and former Ford government MP Baber fighting it out to see who will represent the riding in Ottawa after April 28.

But sometimes campaign volunteers get a little cheeky in their battle for ground. And while they know it’s illegal to remove a sign, there are ways to block one out.