Council to Reconsider Canadian Flag Removal Decision
Reversal vote requires two-thirds majority after public reaction to Pride flag decision.
Just two weeks after unanimously approving the temporary removal of five Canadian flags to make way for Pride flags, West Nipissing Council will now reconsider the controversial decision.
A new resolution—tabled for discussion at tonight’s (June 3rd) Council meeting—calls for the review of Resolution 2025/178, which had authorized the removal of Canadian flags at five municipal locations throughout June in observance of Pride Month. Those locations include River Valley, Field, Verner, North Monetville, and Cache Bay.
The reconsideration comes amid growing public attention and debate over the symbolic move. Some residents voiced concern that removing the national flag, even temporarily, sends the wrong message.
The motion to revisit the flag decision invokes Section 15.11 of West Nipissing's Procedural By-Law No. 2023/27, which stipulates that no resolution may be reconsidered within a year unless supported by a two-thirds majority of councillors present at the meeting. If that threshold is met, the original motion will be reopened for debate and could be amended or rescinded.
Resolution 2023/27 also authorized the payment of $458 for the replacement of Canadian flags for Pride flags. The reconsideration vote does not yet reverse the decision—it merely opens the door to discussion and a possible new outcome.
Pride President Apologizes
Following the public reaction, Luc Charles, President of West Nipissing Pride, issued an apology on Facebook. "I want to sincerely apologize to the entire West Nipissing community for the situation with the Canadian flag," he wrote.
While the committee's resolution specifically called for the removal of Canadian flags, Charles clarified that there was a misunderstanding about the regulations governing the placement of the national flag.
Tonight’s meeting is being held at city hall at 6:30PM and can be viewed on Youtube.
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If this council has any decency left, they will return the Canadian flag to its appropriate location. This is disrespectful to all Canadians. Why does there need to be a pride flag flown at all?
I don't think the flag is appropriate, we are all Canadians, why would they have a flag??? the Canadian flag represents all of us, as one!! This is so sad!!!!!!!!