// Environics Poll Indicates 8/10 Voters Want Illegal Billboards Removed & Increased Fines, 7/10 Want a Reduction in General //

In the run-up to the new billboard bylaw, an Environics survey commissioned by the BCBF Alliance indicates that a strong majority of Torontonians support enhanced protections for pubic space.

78% of the general population and 8/10 of municipal voters support “the city removing billboards that violate city bylaws and implementing fines to a level that discourages future violations.” (For more information on illegal billboards please visit http://www.illegalsigns.ca)

68% of the general population and 7/10 of municipal voters are in support of “the city working to reduce billboards and corporate posters in general.” This result clearly positions civic space advocates as a pubic interest group — rather than treatment or portrayal as a fringe, or special interest.

The survey was limited to people living in the City of Toronto and has an actionable margin of error at +/- 6.7% (19/20) To download the summary, please see: http://www.them.ca/bcbf/Summary_EnvironicsPoll_A-B.pdf (80kb)

For more information:

(647) 267 4221
http://bcbf.them.ca
info@them.ca

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Please note: tomorrow there is a MLS motion regarding illegal signs!
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2007/ls/agendas/2007-11-02-ls08-ar.pdf

For more information on the BCBF Alliance please see below.

The BCBF Alliance is made up of 31 organizations including: the 411 Initiative for Change; Arts & Contemporary Studies Student Union; Artsvote; Canadian Youth Arts Network; Canadian Artists Against Sexual Assault; Centre for Integral Economics; Digital Propaganda; Earwaks.com; Grassroots Youth Collaborative; Illegalsigns.ca; Kate Henderson Intellectual Property & Trademark; Lotus Leaf Communications; Manifesto; Mural Routes; nataliagrosner.com; PressPause; Regent Park Focus Youth Media Arts Centre; Ryerson Students’ Union; Rhythmicru; Spacing Magazine; Style in Progress; TakingITGlobal; The Remix Project; The Gladstone Hotel; The Faculty Of; them.ca; Toronto Arts Council Foundation; Toronto Youth Cabinet; UrbanArts & the Youth Action Network.

The Beautiful City Billboard Fee (BCBF) would see a minimum of six million dollars gathered from an annual license fee. Paid by billboard advertisers, revenue would be directed through the Toronto Arts Council into public art — with a priority put on marginalized communities and youth art. Specific objectives of the BCBF include:

- Urban beautification & employment for artists

- More funding for tracking & policing billboard advertisers

- Helping move Toronto towards a pedestrian focused aesthetic

- Promoting community ownership of public spaces

- Diversifying access to public communication

The BCBF proposal was recently recommended by the Finance Dept and Executive Council for review.

To support this initiative, please sign the petition at: http://www.them.ca/bcbfpetition.asp