Motion to ban foreign national flags in Calgary fails to reach debate

An effort to ban foreign national flag-raising at Calgary city hall has failed for now. The motion fizzled before even getting to debate.

An effort to ban the raising of foreign national flags at Calgary city hall fizzled Tuesday morning without even getting to debate.

Coun. Dan McLean attempted to add the item to the agenda as an urgent notice of motion, but the votes fell short.

It means Calgary’s current flag policy will remain for now.

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“What was once intended as a unifying and symbolic gesture has increasingly become a source of division in our community,” McLean said in trying to convince council to add it to the agenda of its Tuesday public hearing meeting.

“Our role is to ensure that city-led ceremonies foster inclusivity, safety and unity, not conflict. This motion is about restoring that principle,” he said.

Mayor Jeromy Farkas said last week he intended to bring forth the urgent motion after hearing from Calgarians about “serious concerns about how national flag-raisings, of any country, can unintentionally heighten tensions here at home.”

On Saturday, the Palestinian flag was raised at city hall for the first time in Calgary’s history.

However, on Tuesday, Farkas said the timing of urgent notice of motion was not related to any specific flag raising.

“Let’s not kid ourselves, this is purely because of the Palestinian flag raising,” said Coun. Jennifer Wyness, who voted against adding the urgent motion to the agenda.

“The shortcutting of our process through executive (committee) removes the ability to communicate with Calgarians about a policy that matters to everybody.”

While the flag policy will remain for now, both McLean and Farkas indicated they will bring it back as a notice of motion through the city’s executive committee before bringing it again to council in the coming months.

In the meantime, flags of foreign national countries will continue to fly at city hall on pre-determined dates.

The flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina is set to be raised on Nov. 25, while the flag of Albania will fly at Calgary city hall on Nov. 29.