Mayor Parrish says foreign flag raising became security concern. Mississauga has cancelled foreign flag raisings after causing controversy, taking too much resources.
“I’m not doing it anymore,” Mayor Carolyn Parrish told city council on April 1 when she brought forward a motion to cancel the practice of raising foreign flags at Celebration Square.
The Mayor went on to say that difficult decisions about which flags to allow eventually get passed on to her and the city’s lawyers. She said she now even receives threats.
The Mayor’s motion passed, ending the “very controversial” practice, which had city staff spending much more time and money on managing the program than was ever intended. City staff told council that when the program began in 2017 there were only 2 requests for a flag raising. This year there were over 20.
Not only has the number of flag-raisings increased, but as staff pointed out, many of them have become “full-fledged events” requiring security and city involvement to manage. This was not the intent of the program.
Originally, the “Community Recognition Program” was designed to allow “Canadian registered charities and non-profit groups to recognize and celebrate special occasions and events that create a spirit of community…” through a flag-raising or clock tower lighting. These types of flags will continue to be allowed to be raised.
“When the program began in 2017 there were only 2 requests for a flag raising. This year there were over 20.”
As Mpulse has previously reported, the raising of certain foreign flags now generates significant controversy online, with many people against the idea of raising any foreign flag and some social media commentary about specific flags devolving into hate and racism.
The Mayor told council, “I think the majority of people, particularly from war-torn countries, come to Canada because they want to be Canadian. They want to have a Canadian flag flying and relax and get out of all that stuff.” She went on to say, “It’s really been very difficult and I’m not a wimp, as you well know.”
Mississauga is following in the footsteps of other cities, including Calgary and Toronto, which both also recently banned raising foreign flags.
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