Threats, intense criticism preceded cancelled Palestinian flag raising in Regina, internal documents show

WATCH: According to internal documents, threats and criticism preceded the cancelled Palestinian flag raising in Regina.

Regina’s city council recently voted in favour of changing its flag policy – following a cancelled Palestinian flag raising that drew controversy last November. Internal documents show that city officials received significant criticism and pushback prior to the event’s cancelation.

The city’s previous policy, established in 2012, allowed guest flags to be flown at city hall’s ceremonial flagpole to mark commemorative celebrations such as independence days.

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Groups were required to fill out an online form – where a group name and reason for the event were provided. Requests were then reviewed by the office of the city clerk to ensure the request fit within the policy.

Under those guidelines, a flag raising meant to commemorate Palestine’s Day of Independence was scheduled for Nov. 15, 2024.

Intense criticism and threats

Documents first published by the CBC show sustained pushback against the decision in the days prior to the event.

“Raising politically charged flags in a public space does not contribute to peace or harmony but rather risks deepening divisions and putting vulnerable communities at risk,” one resident wrote in an email to city officials.

“The raising of this flag on publicly owned property is deeply unsettling, as it can be interpreted as a political statement that aligns the City of Regina with a contentious, complex, and highly sensitive international conflict,” another complaint read.

“This is going to cause division in our city as there will be protests and increase the hatred towards Jews,” another message read.

In addition to the long list of emails critical of the decision, city officials also received four “threats” and four photos depicting “deceased individuals,” according to an email thread dated Nov. 13.

The exact content of the threats and photos remain unknown, as the emails remained heavily redacted due to the “advice, proposals, recommendations, consultations or deliberations involving officers or employees” of the city’s administration.

Cancellation

The decision to cancel the event seems to have come at the last minute.

Within the documents, the first reference to the cancellation lies within an email chain that begins at 2:49 p.m. on Nov. 14.

The documents reveal the timeline in which city officials ironed out a response to the increasing pushback.

“To be clear – the mayor has seen this? Or had it read out loud to her,” asked Jennifer Johnson, the city’s deputy city manager of communications, Service Regina and Tourism.

Another email between communications staff and the city clerk referred to social media channels being “bombarded” with messages around the flag raising.

Masters eventually signed off on the statement, the documents show.

The announcement was eventually made at 3:52 p.m. on Nov. 14, the day before the event.

“At the direction of Mayor Sandra Masters, the flag raising ceremony for Palestine that had been planned for tomorrow, Friday, November 15, will not proceed,” the statement read.

The last-minute cancellation did not stop around 100 demonstrators from gathering in the city hall courtyard to mark Palestine’s Independence Day.

Palestine flag raising cancellation prompts city hall demonstration in Regina

The incident occurred in a period of transition, just days after Regina’s municipal election which saw Masters unseated by opponent Chad Bachynski.

The documents show that the mayor-elect and the incoming councillors were informed of the outgoing mayor’s decision and were provided copies of the statement.

Speaking to reporters prior to the cancellation, City Clerk Jim Nicol referred to the highly sensitive nature of the topic.

“The only guarantee is that I can’t make anyone happy right now on this. It’s tough,” he said.

New Policy

Discussions over an updated flag policy began earlier in the year, after an Israeli flag was raised in May.

City council tabled potential changes in September but the policy remained unchanged as the flag raising approached.

On Jan. 29, 2025, the city’s new policy was unanimously approved by council. The new rules narrow down the list of flags that can be flown on city property.

National, provincial and municipal flags will be included, along with the flags of Treaty Four and the Metis Nation. The flags of local non-profits, charitable organizations as well as Regina’s sister cities will also still be allowed.

Saskatchewan city changes flag policy banning flags at city hall pole

Bachynski has said the new policy will help the city avoid similar controversies in the future.

“For us really it was around focusing on the city of Regina and not focusing on global politics,” he told CTV News on Jan. 30. “Conversation around city council [was that] we have councillors that are looking at other options to celebrate communities within the city.”

“We were not elected to be ministers of foreign affairs, so I’m happy that we are trying to do something here,” Ward 2 Councillor George Tsiklis said during deliberations.

“I’m very optimistic that this could be a positive if we do the right steps afterwards.”

-With files from Cole Davenport.