Regina changes policy in attempt to avoid repeat of cancelled Palestinian flag raising
Then-mayor Sandra Masters told city staff she'd respond to questions on the cancellation, but never did
Regina council has voted to change its flag-raising policy in an attempt to prevent controversy.
Records obtained by CBC News show that in the days leading up to a planned raising of the Palestinian flag at Regina city hall in November 2024, city officials received a barrage of emails urging the event to be cancelled, a series of threats and graphic images of dead bodies.
On Wednesday, Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski said the new policy will help avoid similar incidents in the future.
"We want to focus on city issues and avoid global politics. That's really the core of it," Bachynski said.
The cache of internal documents obtained by CBC News through a freedom of information illustrates a sustained campaign against the flag raising, which was to happen on Nov. 15, 2024.
"This is going to cause division in our city," wrote one person, whose identity is redacted.
"I do not agree with this as this is a public space and not a political forum," wrote another in a redacted email.
City officials received at least four threats and multiple images of dead bodies
It's not clear whether the people sending the images and the threats were in favour of the event or wanted it to be stopped. Many details in the documents are redacted.
What is clear is the decision to cancel the event came at the direction of then-mayor Sandra Masters.
"The event has been cancelled for tomorrow at the direction of Mayor Masters," wrote Jennifer Johnson, the city's deputy city manager of communications, service Regina & tourism.
CBC News has tried to uncover the details of what would be one of Masters's final acts as mayor.
However, the records released in response to a freedom of information request are heavily redacted due to "advice, proposals, recommendations, consultations or deliberations involving officers or employees of the" municipal government.
Flag policy
At the heart of the controversy is the City of Regina's protocol and procedure for raising another country or organization's flag.
Under that policy, there is an online form that asks the group's name and reason for the flag-raising, which is then reviewed by the office of city clerk Jim Nicol to make sure the criteria in the guidelines are met.
The clerk's office won't approve flags from organizations considered "controversial, contentious or divisive," but the policy does state that "commemorative celebrations" of the independence or national days of other countries "will be approved" unless a similar request has been made within the same year.
Timeline becomes clearer
Masters's decision to cancel the event appears to have come at the last minute, according to every piece of information available.
The city did not announce the decision until 3:52 p.m. CST on Nov. 14, the day before the event.
Nicol had already held a press conference at 1 p.m. that day to discussing the results of the municipal election held the day before.
At the news conference, Nicol was asked about the flag-raising policy. At no time did he mention Friday's event had been cancelled.
The first reference to the event being cancelled comes in an email chain that began at 2:49 p.m.
Among the recipients are high-ranking executives at the City of Regina who worked to refine a statement that would be issued to the public just a few hours later.
"To be clear — the mayor has seen this? Or had it read out loud to her?" Johnson asks.
Masters's office would ultimately sign off on the statement.
Documents show that Masters, the outgoing members of council, then-mayor-elect Chad Bachynski and the incoming members of council were informed of the decision and provided with a copy of the statement.
Despite the cancellation, more than 100 people would show up to city hall on Nov. 15.
Unclear what power Masters had to make decision
The current policy does not contain a provision allowing the mayor to unilaterally cancel a flag raising event.
It's not clear how or why Masters was able to make that decision.
"The Mayor confirmed she would handle any media if it comes in," Jennifer Johnson wrote.
Masters's office did not respond to a request for comment from CBC News on Nov. 14.
A few days later, Bachynski would be sworn in as her successor.
Council moves to avoid flag-raising controversy in the future
The entire controversy may not have happened had Regina city council under Masters acted quicker to adopt a new policy put forward by Nicol.
Nicol's new policy would restrict flags being flown outside city hall to the Saskatchewan flag, the Union Jack, the flag of the City of Regina, the Treaty 4 flag and the Métis flag, with few exceptions.
The ceremonial flagpole would only be used to promote charitable or non-profit organizations like the Red Cross or The Girl Guides. The only exception would be if an accredited ambassador was coming to city hall to meet with members of council, in which case their country's flag could be flown.
The previous iteration of council didn't get to the recommendation in the months leading up to the municipal election.
The issue was debated at council on Wednesday with the change being approved unanimously.
A small amendment will allow the flag of any officially recognized sister city or friendship city. Regina is tied to Jinan, China, through a sister city agreement and has a friendship agreement with Fujioka, Japan.
Councillors who weighed in on the proposed policy made it clear they hope to avoid controversy in the future.
"The world's a complicated place, to come up with a policy that covers every permutation, combination and situation and explanation becomes burdensome," said Ward 4 Coun. Mark Burton.
"As a councillor, I want to work on the things that matter to the citizens of Regina."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
