Language restrictions proposed for Richmond's new sign bylaw

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie says he's surprised his council wants to revisit a potential bylaw on the language used on businesssigns.

Monday's discussion about the city's new sign bylaw was focusedmainly on declutteringwindows and clarifyingthe types of signs allowed, until the introduction of a surprise amendment from Coun. Bill McNulty.

His amendment called for the sign bylaw to mandate "that all future signage require a minimum of 50 per cent of one of Canada's official languages."

• Chinese-only bus shelter ads in Richmond being phased out

The motion passed five to four, with Brodie voting against it.

"I was surprised that this idea came up again because as far as I was concerned we had thoroughly debated this issue a couple of years ago," Brodie said. "So this was a fork in the road."

The idea of a bylaw restricting language on signs has come up several times in Richmond, where some residents feel Chinese language-only signsare becoming too prevalent.

• Richmond won't pursue bylaw on English-only signs

Outreach working, mayor says

Council debated the issue of a bylaw in 2015 and 2013but declined to impose a bylaw both times. Some observers said the issue was a symptom of cultural tension, or even veiled racism.

In 2015, council instead decided to try an outreach approach by employing a sign inspector to encourage shop owners to include more English in their signage by stressing the potential for lost business from English speakers.

"There's the issue of community harmony: you can either lay down bylaws or you can work with your community," Brodie said. "They've had really good success in attracting co-operation. Frankly, I think it's a much more satisfactory way to approach the situation."

On Monday, Richmond's legal counsel also raised concerns of a legal challenge to such a bylaw, as it could infringe on merchants' freedom of expression.

Next steps June 12

Brodie said councilors in favour of a language restriction were reacting tocomments from a 2016 public consultation that found some in Richmond still wanted a sign bylaw.

On Monday, they directed staff to gather legal opinions and other reports on a possible bylaw in time for June 12's council meeting.

• Richmond Chinese-language only sign controversy, a sign of cultural tension

Brodie stresses there is still "some distance" before any such bylaw would become enforceable: the exact wording of such a bylaw would need to be approved, it would need to be voted on by council and then go to public hearing.