FELGER FILES COMPLAINT OVER ELECTION SIGN REMOVAL

Marijuana advocate Tim Felger is using more than just sign language in his bid to have Abbotsford's federal election results overturned.

Felger is confident a complaint he filed yesterday with the Commissioner of Elections against the city and MP Randy White will see a rerun of the election in the Abbotsford riding.

However, Abbotsford MP Randy White says Felger's claim "will not happen."

Felger - who stood in Abbotsford for the Marijuana Party on June 28 - is angry the city ordered the removal of some of his signs during his election campaign.

He also has issues with White, for "encouraging" the city to pull down the controversial placards.

Felger's case against White stems from a single quote that was made by the MP and printed in the Abbotsford News on June 22.

"It is my understanding that these signs are not legal under the Elections Act, but no one is taking the responsibility to remove them, and that is truly unfortunate," White said at the time.

Felger is making a number of demands in his complaint, which has been filed against both White and the city.

Not only does he want the entire election in Abbotsford held again, but he is asking for $60,000 - three times the expenses he says he accrued from his confiscated signs.

Felger is also requesting the city puts up all his signs again before the next election, and replaces the signs he says the city removed and impounded.

"All this is more than possible.  I told these people ( Felger's legal representatives ) before I proceed I want to be guaranteed I can get all of this," Felger said.

"This is black and white: the city had no authorization to remove my signs."

Felger expects decisions on his complaint within 30 days, and says the national Marijuana Party will provide him with the financial support he needs.

"It is safe to assume there is going to be a big mess here," Felger added.

Felger put up more than 150 large signs prior to the election.

However, complaints and questions were received by both White and Abbotsford Mayor Mary Reeves from members of the public who misinterpreted their message.

Some contained the words "Randy White and Mary Reeves" on the top line and "legalize marijuana now" on the second.

This was Felger's demand that both parties - who oppose marijuana legalization - change their minds.  However, some residents believed the message contained in the signs indicated White and Reeves already supported legalizing marijuana legalization.

White laughed-off Felger's demands.

"I think these signs were an unfortunate model for our kids to be reading.  The legality of them, I do not know and do not care - that's for Elections Canada to decide," White said yesterday.

"I do not think he has any case.  My understanding is they had to be authorized by his ( Felger's ) official agent." White says Felger "should set better examples.

"This just seems to be a waste of everybody's time," he added.

Abbotsford Mayor Mary Reeves says the city acted legally.

She said the city "did not touch" Felger's political election signs, and received legal guidance as to what signs could and could not be taken down.