We feel this new tool will allow users to accurately understand what is permitted on the site in terms of signage without having to call the City or read the whole bylaw.

Sign Bylaw revisions

On Feb 24th 2010 at City Council revisions to the current sign bylaw were approved. The changes to bylaw 399-2002 were to clarify and update specific provisions within the bylaw.

These changes affected the following areas:

Changes to Electrical Hook-ups

The Ontario Technical Committee has been working with the ESA on the regulations, the certification of sign shops as well as site inspections with respect to electrical signs in Ontario.

BACKGROUND: The Government of Canada is conducting a pilot project in Ontario for the unified regulations and application of regulations with respect to electrical components in Canada.
The pilot program affects all areas of manufacturing of electrical components.
Legislation was brought into force requiring sign companies to register with the government that they manufacture electrical signage. (Recently this legislation has been put on hold pending review and appeals).
Further, the issue of electrical hook ups / site servicing / maintenance of signage have been discussed. It was the industries understanding that any PRIMARY electrical work must be done by a certified electrician. This includes hook up of electrical feed to the load. (I.E. Power from the panel to the transformer/ballast).
In recent conversations with ESA it has been noted that there is a change that will allow sign installers to disconnect and reconnect transformers and ballasts without having to contract the work to a certified electrician.

A telephone conference is planned with an ESA official on April 14th. Exact time is to be confirmed.
This telephone conference will be to review and clarify the exact regulations and requirements for electrical hook-ups and disconnects.

MTO Revised Sign Bylaw:

The Ontario Legislation Committee was pleased to have worked with the Ministry of Transportation the last few months on the proposed revisions to the Corridor Management Policies (sign bylaw) for MTO.
Through extensive meetings and discussions, revised policies have been developed.

These changes make the new policies simpler to understand, use and easier to apply for permits. Sweeping changes in the thought process allows for sign area calculations which are now specific to the tenant's exposure rather than the entire site.
Calculations which had previously required the Landlord to allocate sign area to the tenants based upon a total sign area permitted for a site have been changed to a simple process of calculation based upon a tenant's visibility to the highway.
Official regulations with respect to electronic message centers are now clear and defined.

Thank you Letter

Clarification of definitions and interpretations have also been done.
These changes will have an overall positive effect on the industry.

To download the English copy of the new policies click here.
(PDF File size: 1,364 kb)
To download the summary of the changes in the new policy click here.
(PDF File size: 14 kb)

Toronto Sign Bylaw:

The 3rd and final reading of the proposed new sign bylaw was done during the Council meeting in Feb 2010. The bylaw is now passed into law and the effective implementation date is set for April 6th.

In speaking with the Toronto Sign Bylaw Team, they have advised that they are currently interviewing and hiring staff for the new sign team that will be dedicated to the permit applications, inspections and enforcement of signage in Toronto.
The location of the application office will be centralized. All sign permit applications will be done at one location.

The Ontario Chapter Legislation Committee is currently working with the team to help develop a handbook on the sign bylaw. A meeting with the City bylaw Team has been set for Friday March 12th 2010.

Toronto Sign Bylaw:

The motion carried forward from the Dec Council meeting with respect to variances was discussed.
Council decided after some debate that the bylaw should be amended with respect to variances in the following way:

In essence, if an applicant's variance is refused, the applicant cannot appeal the decision.
If an applicant's variance is approved, the local Councillor can appeal the approval and request it to be sent back.

In presentations to the PGM on this matter SAC addressed this concern and was informed that the purpose of the PGM was to receive public input but that the decision of Council had already been made.

The final revision on the sign bylaw including this proposed change would be going to Council for final reading during the Feb Council meetings.

Toronto Sign Bylaw:

At the city of Toronto Council meeting dated Dec 1st, the matter on the sign bylaw was held for discussion and put to the Dec 7th date.

On Dec 7th Council discussed the bylaw and expressed concern over the delays in having the bylaw approved. Staff as directed during the PGM Committee meeting of Nov 4th presented a report on the results of the public speakers during that meeting. In general the report indicated that the industry was opposed to the proposed bylaw feeling that further discussion was required.
Staff reported on the submission by SAC representing the first party interests and addressed that there were numerous bylaw regulations requested to be reviewed.
Council's recommendation was to approve the bylaw as presented to the PGM and that in a year's time, a review of the bylaw would take place to determine if there are any required changes or modifications.

A late motion was made to re-examine the variance procedures as some councillors felt they required the chance to overturn variance approvals in their wards within 30 days of approval.
It was decided that this motion would be discussed during the Jan 26 and 27th Council meeting.

Toronto Sign Bylaw:

The industry met in force at the Nov 4th Planning and Growth Management Committee meeting. The meeting went well into the night ending at aprox midnight. There were over 65 speakers for the item and more than half were from the industry. The Committee allowed each speaker a total of 5 minutes to address the committee and then there was the question period.

Representing the first party industry, we had 5 speakers on the list. There were more than 30 from the billboard industry.

Prior to the meeting date the Ontario Legislative committee had discussed key elements of the bylaw to address before the Committee and how we should approach our concerns. Each speaker was given a topic to discuss and present. Drawings were prepare and arguments made.

At the end of the evening it was quite apparent that the PGM Committee believed that prior due diligence had taken place and that the presentations were not significant to warrent changes to the draft bylaw. Most presentations and comments were not supported. The general feeling by the industry after the meeting was that although we got to voice our concerns there would not be significant changes to the draft bylaw.

The Draft bylaw was approved at the PGM meeting without changes. The Committee requested staff to receive the comments from the public, review, and make recommendations directly to Toronto Council in Dec 2009.

A 16 page report prepared by SAC was submitted to the Bylaw staff for their consideration. This report was a summation of our concerns with the proposed draft bylaw and included the visual aids used during the presentations.

Mercury:
Your sign association is working with Environment Canada (EC) on the proposed restrictions on Mercury use and the importing of Mercury into Canada. The Mercury Committee had a telephone conference call with the EC officials working on the new regulations. Subsequent to this, a survey was produced and distributed to members of SAC-ACE for the purpose of determining the status of mercury use as well as requesting comments from members on a proposed 20mg maximum use.

Further, SAC-ACE was able to speak with EC in detail about the IMERC work and ISA’s work with respect to mercury regulations in the US. Our continued work with Environment Canada will ensure there is national uniformity in the regulations enacted governing Mercury use within Canada. EC have agreed to increase the limitations to 100mg (in keeping with the studies done by ISA) as well as the results of our survey which indicated a minimum requirement of more than 50mg.

Our concluding efforts on this will be to work with EC on terms, specifics and limitations based upon 100mg use.

The next phase will be environment handling and disposal. EC have advised they are going to commence work on developing the proper handling, disposal and training requirements necessary in dealing with Mercury based products.
Here is the link to the Environment Canada's web site with respect to Mercury: http://www.ec.gc.ca/mercury

LED:
SAC-ACE felt there was a serious need to look into the inspections and regulations processes as a result of the heated debate that ensued at the LED seminar organized at CONSAC-Imagemakers 09 and the requests from the BC and Atlantic regional associations. To that end, we have begun working with all the regulatory agencies to develop an outline of the requirements necessary in the certification process for the proper use and installation of LED components in Canada.

Our strategic alliance with these regulatory agencies is vital. All efforts are being made to ensure a practical and effective certification process is in place and ready for inclusion in the 2012 Canadian Electrical Code.

Both ESA and CSA have agreed to work together with SAC-ACE to ensure a workable resolution is realized.

SAC-ACE is very aware that some companies have great working relationships and comply with the present requirements of the authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ). We are respectful of those relationships and as such have no intention of disrupting that balance. We are however sensitive to those companies struggling with the excessively stringent rules and demands their AHJ’s have placed upon them. SAC-ACE is committed to assist in bringing a workable resolution forth for any company who feels the rules imposed by AHJs is extreme or disproportionate with other regions throughout the country.

At the writing of this report, SAC-ACE has already begun work on formulating a committee for LED certification. CEC, ESA and CSA have committed to work in tandem to develop practicable regulations for LED use. The Sign Association of Canada will be providing regular reports to our members as we progress through this process.

Toronto Sign Bylaw:

If passed, the implications of this proposed sign bylaw will significantly impair our industry. From the general reduction in sign area, to the quantity and illumination limitations on many types of new signage the effects will be extensive. SAC’s concerted effort to bring forth a more equable bylaw reach far beyond the immediate situation presented before us in Toronto. SAC-ACE has serious concerns surrounding the proposed ideals in this bylaw, specifically the potential adoption risk that could ensue as the municipal heads across Canada meet regularly to discuss various initiatives within their regions. It is a very real possibility Toronto’s concerns with respect to environment and signage pollution may swiftly spread throughout other parts of the country.

Toronto is proposing strict limitations on intensity of illumination, calculated in Kips, Nibs and Candle Watt which will significantly limit the effectiveness of signage. Further, there are regulations on the illumination impact on neighboring properties as well as “sky pollution” where no illumination may be directed upwards. In addition there are also smog alert regulations being proposed whereby signage must be turned off during official Smog Alerts issued by the Province.

The Ontario region’s legislation committee is working hard with the City of Toronto bylaw staff to make changes to the draft bylaw in an attempt to create a more favorable outcome for our industry. Unfortunately the “environmental” proposals are a directive of Council and are not open for discussion. The additional costs that will be levied to calculate both light intensity calculations and energy consumption numbers are costs that our industry and our clients simply should not have to bear.

There is going to be a very important meeting on Nov 4 at the Toronto City Hall, Planning and Growth Committee. The Sign Association of Canada encourages all concerned industry personnel to attend this forum.

We believe a united industry voice is far more powerful than many fragmented and incomplete arguments.

We will be appearing before the Planning and Growth committee to make a presentation outlining all of our industry’s concerns and request they be addressed in the proposed bylaw before it becomes ratified.

The City is attempting to fast track approval of this proposed bylaw. The time has come to mobilize and speak out.