At Oshawa, regardless of what election is happening, I like to yell out that I live in Courtice to the candidates running for Oshawa (the federal incumbent is Colin Carrie - his website wants your name, email address and postal code before you can even check him out - the hell?) I don't know who to expect to see at the Oshawa GO station in the weeks leading up to the federal election and I don't care, BECAUSE I LIVE IN COURTICE.
Metrolinx, on the other hand, DOES care, and they've got some rules you should know if you feel things are getting out of hand.
Metrolinx will be applying the following principles in managing (campaigning), to ensure the safety and convenience of the travelling public, avoid conflicts and place reasonable parameters around access:
- At our Lakeshore East and West line stations, there will be a limit of 8 campaign staff members per candidate
- For stations on all other lines, a maximum of 4 campaign staff members will be allowed
- GO Transit customers tend to arrive at stations a short time before scheduled train or bus departures. Care needs to be taken to avoid causing congestion or delays for customers to board their desired trains or buses.
- Candidates and their representatives must remain outside of restricted areas or the "fare-paid" zones, such as train platforms.
Here's how I felt about the 2010 Oshawa mayor race... check out my sign. I printed that puppy out and gave it to the candidates. It was gold.
