Bid to rewrite city flag policy on hold until September

Council has tabled a motion to alter the city's flag policy for a second time after an on-the-floor amendment proposed Wednesday looked to prevent any flags “related to countries” other than Canada from being flown at city hall.

The original motion was brought to city council by Cheryl Stadnichuk (Ward 1) and Shanon Zachidniak (Ward 8) following public outcry over the flying of the Israeli flag at city hall amid ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip.

It proposed amendments to the city's Flag Protocol and Proclamation Policy that would deny applications for flag raisings for countries that have been determined by an international court to have violated the 1948 Convention on the Prevention of the Crime of Genocide in the last 20 years, or any country that is under investigation for human rights violations or genocide by the International Court of Justice.

It was initially to be discussed on June 26, when over 20 people gathered outside city hall with strong anti-genocide messages for council, but was tabled due to a lengthy agenda.

“Raising a foreign flag symbolizes respect for that country's values and moral standing,” said Eman Almehdawe, a University of Regina professor and the second delegate who spoke on the motion Wednesday. “The City of Regina should only raise flags of countries that uphold human rights, respect international organizations, and comply with international laws.”

Michael Lynk, a professor emeritus of law at Western University in London, Ont, and former United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, submitted a written delegation to council.

“In international human rights law, genocide is deemed to be the `crime of crimes.' It is defined as the `intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group,'” wrote Lynk.

“I would urge the city council to adopt an amendment to its Flag Protocol and Proclamation Policy which can operationally determine whether a country's flag should have the honour of being flown at the Regina City Hall.”

Part way through the debate, Ward 7 Coun. Terina Nelson put forward an amendment she said was an effort to simplify and prevent further “back and forth.” If passed, it would make it so the city could only fly six approved flags, including: Canada, Saskatchewan, Regina, Treaty 4, Métis and the Union Jack.

It was met with a referral motion from Ward 2 Coun. Bob Hawkins.

“Suppose the president of France visited city hall, should we be prepared to fly the French flag in honour of his or her visit?” asked Hawkins.

City clerk Jim Nicol confirmed the city wouldn't be able to fly the French flag in such a scenario if Nelson's amendment was approved.

The referral motion passed with a 5-3 vote to give administration time to dig into the implications of the proposed amendment.

Nicol said he could bring the report back with more information in September.