Windsor-Essex community takes down U.S. flag, unrelated to tariffs

Windsor takes down the American flag, are other municipalities following suit? CTV Windsor’s Bob Bellacicco looks into it.

A Windsor-Essex, Ont. community has taken down the U.S. flag that once flew in its park, however, it’s unrelated to recent tariffs.

The U.S. flagpole at Lakewood Park in Tecumseh is empty. According to mayor Gary McNamara, a new policy is in place. That policy started before tariff discussions began.

“The policy will dictate if we can fly it or not, special occasion, special flags, for example, Black History Month. We just flew that last month,” he said.

The policy change took effect the same time U.S. president Donald Trump began speaking of tariffs.

“It’s not necessarily caused because of the tariffs, but I’m telling you, it’s not a bad thing,” McNamara said.

“I’m glad it’s down.”

Although the timing is coincidental, McNamara would have suggested the flag be taken down as soon as the tariffs took effect, regardless of the policy.

“How can you stand idly by when a government of a country wants to break you, to bring you to the knees?” he questioned.

In Windsor, the city has decided not to take down the U.S. flags. LaSalle and Essex also came to the same decision.

“In order to change it, we would have to raise it at council and vote on it at the council level,” said Essex mayor, Sherry Bondy.

“I can’t go to staff and say, ‘do this, do that’. It is consensus at the council chambers that changes things in our town.”

As for McNamara, he isn’t worried about optics or the message the empty pole sends, citing thousands in the community will be affected.

“It’s not about the people in general,” said the Tecumseh mayor.

“It’s about the policy of their government of the day. And I think what we’re doing, is basically standing up for Canada and our residents.”