Fly Canadian flag, Mississauga council tells residents. Motion calls for those flying foreign flags to also fly the Canadian flag, following public outcry.
Following requests from residents in Mississauga’s Ward 4, City Council is now encouraging anyone displaying a foreign flag on their residential property to also display a Canadian flag, “as a gesture of pride in Canada.” Deputy Mayor and Ward 4 Councillor John Kovac proposed the motion, which was unanimously adopted by council on February 11.
While the motion recognizes that “the decisions regarding the display of flags on private residential property fall within the rights and personal freedoms of individual residents,” its intent is to “promote unity, respect and national pride” by encouraging “flying the Canadian national flag adjacent to any foreign national flag.”
Flags have recently become a point of controversy in Mississauga. Last year, social media erupted with thousands of comments and even a deputation to city council by a local resident about the practice of raising foreign flags at Mississauga’s Celebration Square. Every year the city raises 25 foreign flags, often timed to coincide with foreign national independence days.
After last year’s raising of the national flag of India on August 15th, the City of Mississauga’s official X account received over 1 million views and 1700 comments. Onkar Deshpande, the Mississauga resident who spoke to council, said he felt there were around “1000 hate comments,” prompting him to ask the city to “mute those posts.” Many commentators on social media felt the city should not raise any foreign flags.
Last March, the City of Mississauga removed all American flags from city property, including at marinas and arenas, following the tariff related dispute between Canada and the United States. According to news reports at the time, Councillor Stephen Dasko said the flag removal was to demonstrate “our displeasure with what’s coming out of the White House right now.” Mayor Carolyn Parrish said it was “in response to resident feedback” and the desire for “more visible Canadian symbols.”
Deputy Mayor Kovac’s recent motion also includes a request for council to direct staff to “promote public education and awareness” of the encouragement to display the Canadian flag as well as the “recommended flag etiquette” while “clearly communicating” that the displaying of the Canadian flag “remains voluntary.”
