{"id":18110,"date":"2025-02-25T15:45:02","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T15:45:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/25\/ontario-council-votes-unanimously-to-remove-u-s-flags-from-town-buildings\/"},"modified":"2025-02-25T15:45:02","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T15:45:02","slug":"ontario-council-votes-unanimously-to-remove-u-s-flags-from-town-buildings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/25\/ontario-council-votes-unanimously-to-remove-u-s-flags-from-town-buildings\/","title":{"rendered":"Ontario council votes unanimously to remove U.S. flags from town buildings"},"content":{"rendered":"


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An Ontario township has decided to remove all permanently affixed American flags from its buildings amid growing tensions with the United States.<\/p>\n

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West Lincoln council voted unanimously Monday night to take down the flags after it was recommended by the town\u2019s corporate services committee<\/a> last week. Council also approved all unrelated recommendations the committee made in its vote, without debate.<\/p>\n

During the committee meeting, Coun. William Reilly questioned why the U.S. flag remains up year-round at the West Lincoln community centre, while Ontario\u2019s provincial flag is absent.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have an American flag that seems to be fixed in our community centre and we don\u2019t even have an Ontario provincial flag that\u2019s up even one day a year,\u201d Reilly said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel disrespected by our American neighbours. It kind of strikes a nerve that here we are in our country, in our facility, proudly displaying their flag.\u201d<\/p>\n

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While all members of the township, located less than an hour\u2019s drive from the U.S. border, agreed that they do not want to ban the flag, the majority agreed it should only be displayed when an American team is visiting.<\/p>\n

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Coun. Jason Trombetta, who supported the motion, cited concerns about vandalism at the other buildings as another factor in the removal of the flag.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf this [the flag] is going to possibly cause a disruption or a safety issue \u2014 because we\u2019ve had damage at the community centre \u2014 then for the time being, I will support that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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Reilly, however, stood by his position that the issue is about respect.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI have no problem with their flag being raised when their team is playing here, but outside of that, the flag should be pulled down and stored away. I don\u2019t think it has earned the right to remain in our facility 365 days a year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Monday\u2019s vote comes as cross-border tensions continue with U.S. President Donald Trump<\/a>, who said Monday that his plan to impose sweeping 25 per cent tariffs<\/a> on imports from Canada and Mexico on March 4 is still happening.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re on time with the tariffs, and that\u2019s moving along very rapidly,\u201d Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re being mistreated by many countries, not just Canada and Mexico.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013with files from Sean Previl<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n