Toronto councillor proposes banning flying foreign flags at City Hall

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A Toronto city councillor wants to “eliminate” flying the flags of other countries at City Hall.

In a motion dubbed “One Country, One Flag; Celebrating the Canadian Flag,” Don Valley East Coun. Jon Burnside also proposed banning the flying of flags requested by non-profit or charitable organizations at Toronto City Hall and other civic institutions “effective immediately.”

“The world’s a complicated place. History is complicated, and City Hall is not the place to debate that,” he told Newstalk 1010’s Moore in the Morning on Friday.

Burnside said his office looks out onto Bay Street and that there have been “a few times” this year where the flying of a flag on City Hall’s courtesy flag pole “by one group or another” has led to protests. Burnside did not specify which groups he was referring to.

“And that’s just not the point of flying flags,” he said.

“Look, you want to fly a flag at your own restaurant, your own community centre? Toronto is 630 square kilometres: Go find a spot, but just not City Hall or our our other civic institutions.”

The motion, which was seconded by Coun. Michael Thompson, does not recommend changes to raising the flags of the Indigenous and Treaty partners, Intersex Pride, Black Liberation, or professional sport organizations, or flags of cities that are part of the City’s International Alliance program.

No changes are being recommended to the flying of the City of Toronto flag, provincial/territorial flags, or Canadian flag. The city’s half-masting policy would also remain intact if the motion is adopted.

Burnside said he believes there is support for his proposal, but that it’s hard to say if it will pass when it goes before council next week.