{"id":918363,"date":"2026-10-02T22:54:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T22:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/918363\/"},"modified":"2026-10-02T22:54:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T22:54:11","slug":"calgary-admits-workers-wrongly-removed-alberta-separation-signs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/918363\/","title":{"rendered":"Calgary admits workers wrongly removed Alberta separation signs"},"content":{"rendered":"

The City of Calgary has acknowledged that workers mistakenly removed several pro-separation referendum signs after concerns were raised publicly this week.<\/p>\n

Mayor Jeromy Farkas said city staff made an error when removing the signs, specifically mentioning one that was displayed along 10 Street NW. <\/p>\n

A video shared online this week appeared to show a city worker taking down multiple signs supporting Alberta separation and placing them in the back of a city truck.<\/p>\n

\u201cI looked into reports of City workers removing some referendum signs. They made a mistake,\u201d Farkas wrote in a social media post Friday.<\/p>\n

In a video accompanying the post, Farkas said the signs have been returned to their owners, and emphasized that the city cannot remove referendum signs simply because of their political message.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think anyone is confused about where I stand on separation,\u201d said Farkas in the video. \u201cI\u2019m strongly against it, but people who disagree with me have the same right to participate in this debate as anyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Farkas added that while the city enforces rules related to public safety, including restrictions near intersections, transit stops, schools and playgrounds, it must apply those rules equally.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn this case, we got it wrong and on behalf of city staff, I apologize,\u201d he said. \u201cCalgarians need to know that their city isn\u2019t picking sides when it comes to enforcing the rules.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of the removed signs were paid for by Pathway to Independence, a third-party advertiser supporting Alberta separation. The group\u2019s spokesperson, Cory Morgan, said one of the signs was recovered when a volunteer collected signs that had been stored by the city.<\/p>\n

\u201cGlad it was returned. But still a frustrating annoyance,\u201d Morgan said in a statement to CityNews. \u201cWe work hard to ensure our placements are compliant with regulations to avoid these sorts of things.\u201d<\/p>\n

The city noted it does not regulate referendum signs or referendum advertising under provincial legislation, but will continue to address signs that create safety hazards or interfere with public infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Albertans will head to the polls to vote on 10 questions, including one on separation, in a provincewide referendum on Oct. 19.<\/p>\n

\t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n

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