Union puts up billboards after election posters torn down in Quebec City

Pre-election posters that caused controversy in Quebec City last week are back.

READ MORE: Unions threaten legal action against Quebec City over removal of signs

A group of unions representing 116,000 employees have put up a number of posters in ridings where they believe there will be tight provincial election races, such as Roberval, the north and south shore of Montreal, and Quebec City.

The posters depict the left side of Premier Philippe Couillard’s face adjoined to the right side of CAQ leader Francois Legault’s face. Text reads “Libécaquiste Caquibéral from the same to the same.”

READ MORE: Quebec politicians gear up for election showdown

About 200 were torn down by city officials last Monday. Quebec City says they contravened municipal bylaws, which prohibit political ads outside of official election campaigns.

The group of unions is threatening to take the city to court for impeding on its freedom of speech.

“It’s important for us to be visible,” said Marc Ranger, the Quebec regional director for the Canadian Public Service Union (SCFP).

Neither the posters nor the billboards will be permitted once the official campaign gets underway at the end of August; Elections Quebec rules stipulate that only political parties can run ads during that time.

In the meantime, they have now purchased billboards in the capital city, which are not covered by the bylaw.

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“You know, it’s funny because you look at Montreal. I’m in my office right now and I can see posters. Not one poster was taken down in Montreal. No big deal. No legal action. … Is there another way to see democracy in Quebec City than in Montreal?” Ranger said.