UMVA has learned that a peculiar scene unfolded in Toronto's David Crombie Park, where a massive pile of compost was dumped and a sign was stuck in the ground bearing the words “free compost” and “Ausma Malik.”
This unusual display has raised eyebrows, as it appears to blur the lines between a civic duty and a potential electioneering tactic. Malik, a current city councillor, is expected to run in the upcoming municipal election, and her website boasts that the compost dump is just one of six in her ward.
Paul Nash, a candidate vying for Malik's seat, has registered his candidacy and believes that Malik's compost sign may be "probably acceptable, but it does put other candidates at a disadvantage." Nash knows that he can't put up a sign with his name on it until October 1, and even then, not in a public park.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Ian Stedman, an associate professor at York University's school of public policy and administration, says there's a "line that's being toed" with these sorts of signs, compared with a proper election sign. While Malik's name on the compost sign may not directly say "vote for me," it still raises awareness of her name.
The City of Toronto claims there's no issue with Malik's name being next to the compost pile, as restrictions on communication materials featuring a councillor's name don't kick in until August 1. However, Nash argues that this gives incumbents like Malik a home turf advantage.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that this perceived advantage has led to accusations of "shadow campaigning" against some candidates, including Mayor Olivia Chow. Progress Toronto, a group aligned with Chow, has made similar accusations against Brad Bradford, a mayoral favourite.
Stedman notes that shadow campaigning is nothing new and that incumbents often try to raise their profile to gain an advantage. He suggests that the rules could be changed to level the playing field, such as restricting any sign featuring an incumbent's name once the nomination period begins.
UMVA has gathered that some candidates might be holding off on officially announcing their candidacy to take advantage of the extra attention city hall will get during the World Cup this summer. This toeing of the line has become a norm in politics, but some argue that it's unpalatable and that the rules should be rewritten to prevent it.
