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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
As the municipal election gets into full swing, candidates looking for a fresh and innovative way to get noticed should stay away from territorial highways.

City council candidate Dan Wong erected a Hollywood-style "Vote Dan Wong" sign on top of a hill near Jackfish Lake along Highway 3 more than a week ago, only to be told by the Department of Transportation on Wednesday to take it down.

"The Green Party did it last year for five weeks," said Wong, clearly taken aback by the news his sign would have to be removed.

Wong, who wanted to "do something creative, new, fun, and positive" for his campaign, said he didn't know he was doing anything illegal when he called back yesterday.

"We weren't aware we needed two different permits. We followed all the rules the city gave us ... I take full responsibility for not being aware that we needed two permits. We are happy to comply with them," said Wong.

According to the City of Yellowknife, candidates may place their signage alongside roadways as long as it is not on the shoulder, median, or blocking traffic sight lines. The Department of Transportation, however, insists that no signage can be placed alongside territorial highways.

"No candidate can put signs along the roadway," said Earl Blacklock, the department's manager of public affairs and communications. "We will work with the candidates to make sure the signs are removed."

Blacklock would not go into detail regarding fines or what the consequences would be should a candidate fail to remove a sign after they receive a warning.

Wong said he would be taking his sign down either today or tomorrow and moving it somewhere else, which "will be a big surprise."

Wong is not the only candidate to be disappointed by this turn of events. Coun. Mark Heyck, who had plans to erect his own Hollywood-style sign, "Vote Heyck," just past Niven Gate, had to change course and place it by Ruth Inch Memorial Pool.

"I can understand the Department of Transportation's position on the issue of having signs near highways, and not wanting to distract drivers," said Heyck.

In the federal election last year, Green Party candidate Eli Purchase was the first to post such a sign.

"I can understand where the Department of Transportation is coming from. They don't want signs distracting drivers. Safety for the public comes first," said Purchase.

Purchase believes the reason he was able to keep his sign posted during the duration of the federal election was because it was the first time it had been done and "because it was the Green Party, they were more lax in (enforcing the regulation). They didn't think I would win (so they weren't as diligent as they might have been with a stronger candidate)."

The municipal election will take place Oct. 15.

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