TABER, Alta. - The man behind a billboard urging Albertans to “Choose Alberta” says the Town of Taber has ordered it to be removed, setting off a debate over political expression as the province heads towards an October vote on separation.
Cory Morgan the organizer of Pathway to Independence, a registered third-party advertiser, said the town sent a letter to the billboard operator directing it to take down the advertisement, which features Alberta’s shield and the message: “Send Ottawa a Message! Choose Alberta.”
“We’re a registered third-party advertiser with Elections Alberta. We followed the compliance... it wasn’t anything, you know, crazy or offensive or something like that,” he said.
Morgan said the town appears to be taking a position in an active political campaign.
“It would be like a level of government interfering with an election candidate if they were trying to advertise within their jurisdiction,” he said.
The digital billboard is located on land leased from the Town of Taber and is one of two signs along Highway three in the southern Alberta community.
In a letter to the sign operator, the town said it had received multiple complaints about the billboard and “determined that the continued display of the subject advertisement constitutes a nuisance and is inconsistent with the permitted use of the licensed area.”
The town directed the operator to remove the advertisement by June 13 and warned it could exercise remedies under the agreement, including terminating the license.
The Town of Taber has not publicly commented on its decision to order the sign removed.
Last week, the municipality said it did not create, approve, endorse or fund the advertisement and that the views expressed do not represent the town, council or the broader community.
The sign operator, who asked not to be identified, said he was surprised by the municipality’s letter.
“We have never had any past issues with the town regarding our lease agreement concerning political advertisements,” he said in a statement.
He said the company accepts all legitimate third-party advertising that is not illegal, inappropriate or hate speech and noted the advertisement continues to run while discussions with the town continue.
“We respectfully ask the public not to lash out at the town or the local farmers,” he said.
“Regardless of whether you agree with the advertisement or not, we are actively working with the town to resolve our differences.”
Billboard highlights ‘growing political polarization’
The controversy has drawn strong reactions from residents, but not all support removing the sign.
“It doesn’t bother me. To me, it sends a message to Ottawa,” said Barb Haynes, who opposes Alberta separation.
Anna Friesen, who supports Alberta independence, said the sign should remain.
“I don’t think the sign should be taken down.”
Kandis Howells, who remains undecided on separation, also questioned whether the sign should be removed.
“I don’t necessarily think it needs to be taken down. I think people can take it for what it’s worth. Either you agree with it or you don’t.”
Sam, another Taber resident who signed the Alberta separation petition, said the billboard represents a political opinion.
“I don’t see anything wrong with it. I think it’s a person’s own opinion and people have the right to have their own opinions.”
She said she does not believe the town should intervene.
“The person that purchased that advertisement, that was their right to do so. It’s not offensive. There’s nothing graphic. There’s nothing violent.”
Feo Snagovsky, a political scientist at the University of Alberta, said the dispute highlights growing political polarization in the province.
“You have a pretty clear cleavage between the political left and the political right, and that has really let people tap into their own identities and see other people as enemies rather than opponents. And that’s a really big problem that’s going to last well beyond this current referendum.”
Snagovsky added that governments should be cautious when restricting expression.
“The bar for a government to be clamping down on speech should be really high. Freedom of expression is protected in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and that has to extend to people we disagree with.”
He said attempts to suppress political messages can sometimes have the opposite effect.
“If you shut down speech like this, what ends up happening is exactly what’s happened. You give the attention, you give the issue more attention.”
That appears to be what is happening in Taber.
Morgan said the backlash has prompted him to expand the digital ad campaign.
He said he has already purchased advertising space on a second billboard in Taber and is considering a third. Additional billboard advertising may also be placed elsewhere in Alberta.
“It’s just my way of saying you’re not stopping us,” he said.
“We didn’t anticipate all of this headache coming from it, but we’re pushing back on a point of very serious principle.”
Morgan said he has also been consulting lawyers and plans to challenge the town’s decision.
“We’ll be following through with the Town of Taber on this because it’s setting a very dangerous precedent as we go into a four-month campaign period.”
In a statement to CTV News, Elections Alberta said “it does not grant any rights to a third party advertiser regarding advertising display or placement” and that it has no role in disputes between advertisers and public or private advertising providers.
On Oct. 19, Alberta will ask its citizens whether they want to remain part of Canada or kick-start the process of holding a binding referendum on separation.
