‘Let’s be proud’: Mississauga council backs call to fly Canadian flag with foreign flags

Canadian flag seen hoisted on a resident's property (CTV News file photo).

Mississauga’s deputy mayor is encouraging residents to raise the Maple Leaf alongside any foreign flag they choose to fly at home, framing it as a voluntary show of national unity in one of Canada’s most diverse cities.

Coun. John Kovac’s motion, passed Feb. 11, directs city staff to launch a public awareness campaign ahead of National Flag of Canada Day on Feb. 15, encouraging residents to display the Canadian flag as a symbolic gesture of pride.

“If we were to do this… it needed to be voluntary. I don’t want to push anybody to do anything… as per the Charter, people have the right to freedom of expression, and certainly there are property rights as well,” Kovac told CTV News in an interview. “Let’s be proud.”

He said some residents had approached him asking “what can we do in this ward… to have more Canadian flags… as a greater show or demonstration of our pride in Canada and our pride… in the flag.”

“There’s been a definite increase in the want to show… our pride in Canada… at every level of government,” he added.

Kovac emphasized the city has no authority to dictate how flags are flown on private property and does not want anyone to feel targeted.

“We don’t want to get into a situation where people feel like they’re being picked on or poked at,” he said.

“What we’ve directed staff here at the city to do is… promote public education and awareness of this initiative, recommend flag etiquette… and that it remains voluntary. Don’t make anybody feel uncomfortable.”

Kovac, the child of immigrants from Croatia and Italy, said flying the Canadian flag first reflects his own identity.

“This flag represents us, and it should represent us – all of us,” he said.