Regina Changes Flag Policy After Palestinian Flag Ceremony Causes Controversy

City Hall in Regina in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Michael Bell

The City of Regina has changed its flag policy after a Palestinian flag raising was cancelled by the mayor.

City council started discussing the issue last summer, a few months before plans for a Palestinian flag raising was cancelled by the outgoing mayor Sandra Masters.

The new policy will mean city officials will deny applications for flag raising and proclamations for flags and causes from other countries.

Only flags of Canada, Saskatchewan, the Union Jack, City of Regina, Treaty 4, and Metis Nation will be allowed in the City Hall courtyard and council chamber.

However, exceptions will be made if an official dignitary of a nation “with whom Canada has diplomatic relations” is visiting Regina City Hall, according to council documents. Flying the flag of the dignitary’s home country would be considered a “gesture of respect.”

Council also voted for an exception to the bylaw for sister cities.

Flags for non-profit groups, charities, and events will still be allowed.

The motion was originally brought to council in July 2024, but was sent to the city clerk to prepare a report for council’s Sept. 25, 2024 meeting. The report was to include all options for the motion, as well as implications of the policy.

The updated motion was tabled on Dec. 11. It passed unanimously during council’s meeting on Jan. 29.

A group that had planned the Palestinian flag raising in November 2024 said cancelling the event showed bias. They noted that an Israeli flag had been raised on May 13 and 14 in honour of that country’s independence celebrations.

However, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) said they applauded the mayor’s decision. “We appreciate the swift response and strong working relationships with the administration of the City of Regina and Mayor Masters,” CIJA’s vice president for Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Gustavo Zentner, said in a Nov. 14 post on the X platform.

Other cities in Canada have also faced controversy with flag raising activities since the breakout of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023.

In May 2024, the city of Ottawa cancelled a ceremony to mark Israel’s Independence Day at city hall, while it went ahead with raising the country’s flag. The event had been observed with a ceremony in previous years.

Toronto’s Mayor Olivia Chow declined to attend a similar event in her city that year. In a statement, she said she believed the event was divisive.

The City of Toronto released a notice about the flag raising last year, saying it will only raise flags of nations that are recognized by Global Affairs, as well as non-profit or charitable organizations.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.