PROVINCIAL

The town had listed environmental concerns and an uneven playing field amongst candidates as some reasons for the bylaw.

The Calgary-based Canadian Constitution Foundation contacted the town saying if the bylaw was not repelled, it would proceed with a constitutional challenge against the town in court.

In the end, the town put a stay on enforcement of the bylaw during the 2020 municipal election. Asked where the sign bylaw now stands, the town says it is being amended.

“It was duly moved and seconded that council pass first reading to amend Bylaw 6.11 in the Land Use Bylaw to ban the placement of elections signs on public property, while permitting the placement of election signs on private property,” said Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood over the weekend. “We respect that both candidates and residents may want to put them up. They just can't do it on public land.”

The town says the ‘stay' on enforcement of the bylaw continues, as council is in the process of amending the bylaw to only restrict election signs on public property.

Health care and housing are expected to be key issues in this provincial election campaign.

All three provincial leaders commented on the campaign as things got underway on Saturday.

“This province is at a pivotal moment and we need to continue to make the right decisions for workers, for seniors, for families, and for all Nova Scotians,” Rankin said. “This election will be about how we best position the province for a strong economic recovery, one that focuses on investments and infrastructure, green technology and renewable energy. I couldn't be more optimistic about the potential of this province.”

Asked why Nova Scotians need an election at a time of a state of emergency, Rankin said with the province now in Phase 4 of the recovery from the COVID pandemic, he felt now would be the time to build on the progress made so far.

“People are optimistic and they want to know what the future looks like and how we can best recover from the pandemic,” he said.

Tim Houston, leader of the provincial Progressive Conservatives, said on the weekend, “We have the solutions and ideas and we've laid them out in detailed plans. We haven't waited for an election, we've been laying them out for Nova Scotians to see.”

He said the party has the momentum, having won six of the last seven provincial byelections.

“We are the only party that is laying out innovative, bold ideas that can transform our economy. We are showing the kind of thinking that is needed,” said Houston. “Throughout this campaign, I'm going to talk a little bit about the bad choices this government has made. I have to. I need to do it, to show that better choices are possible.”

NDP leader Gary Burrill launched his party's campaign with an outdoor news conference.

“Real people's real lives – and what is needed for real people's real lives – are going to be placed at the real front and centre of every decision that's made for the next four years in Nova Scotia,” he said. “That's what's going to happen if the NDP is elected.”

He said the government should be embarrassed that Nova Scotia is the only province in Canada without fixed election dates.

“At this 18-month mark or so of the pandemic – I think we're at a moment of incredible openness and volatility and I think you're going to see it's going to be one interesting election,” Burrill said.