If you’re looking at a pro-independence campaign sign in Calgary, there may be a camera pointed in your direction
In several locations around Calgary, pro-independence third-party advertisers Let Alberta Decide and Pathway to Independence have included yellow messages on their campaign signs saying “Smile! You’re on Camera,” ahead of this fall’s referendum. Near the signs, a camera attached to a streetlight or sign pole is pointed in the signs’ direction.
Keith Wilson, a lawyer who’s one of the co-heads of Let Alberta Decide, said the cameras are meant to deter vandalism.
“There’s a remarkable amount of vandalism occurring on both sides and it’s really disappointing,” said Wilson.
“It’s the reflection of, I think, two things. One is the emotional nature of this question, and the polarization that we see in our society.”
Alberta is holding a referendum in October that includes a question asking voters if they want to remain in Canada or start the legal process required to hold a second, binding referendum on leaving the country.
Let Alberta Decide and Pathway to Independence are a pro-independence groups, with signs advocating for voters to cast a ballot in favour of putting Alberta’s separation up for a vote.
Pathway to Independence founder Cory Morgan also said the cameras are a more effective deterrent than relying on police, who are busy with other responsibilities.
“I think that would be a more effective deterrent than anything else so people can leave our signs alone during the campaign period,” said Morgan.
Morgan added that if his group catches vandalism on video, they plan to post the footage to social media to discourage future vandalism.
But he said cameras pointed at his group’s signs are intended to only be located on private property, especially in rural areas where there are fewer people around to see vandalism when it occurs.
Morgan said he was not aware of a camera attached to a streetlight pointed at one of his signs in Calgary, but acknowledged it may have been placed there by mistake.
When asked about the security measure, the City of Calgary said it was unaware of the cameras. But noted some may be posted on private property or land not stewarded by the city.
“The Streetlights team has no awareness of any cameras being placed on public infrastructure for this purpose, and this would not be permitted,” the city said in an emailed statement.
Wilson cited his legal training to back up his assertion that Let Alberta Decide’s activities are in full compliance with privacy law.
CBC News cannot confirm how many of the campaign signs around Alberta now have cameras pointed at them. But Wilson said Let Alberta Decide has around 148 signs across the province.
Wilson said that any footage the cameras gather would be turned over to the authorities. When asked if he had any intention to publicly post footage gathered from the cameras, he said he had not thought of the idea.
“Whatever we did would be done lawfully,” said Wilson “If we were to do that, it would only be done with full compliance of the law and in good faith.”
Morgan said his group had no communication with Wilson when setting up the cameras, but that the groups have overlap in their volunteer bases.