Calgary's mayor is taking decisive action to prohibit the raising of national flags outside City Hall, a move that comes as a prominent Jewish organization raises concerns about an approved Palestinian ceremony scheduled for this weekend.
Mayor's Motion to Amend Flag Policy
Jeromy Farkas announced on social media Thursday that he will submit an urgent notice of motion next week to change the city's flag policy. The mayor stated that the tradition of raising national flags "of any country, can unintentionally heighten tensions here at home." The existing policy currently allows citizens to request national flag raisings for countries officially recognized by the federal government on their designated national days.
Farkas emphasized that his proposed motion would completely prohibit requests to raise any country's national flag. "These events, even when well-intentioned, increasingly risk becoming flashpoints for conflict and for the alarming rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia we are seeing in our city," he posted on X.
Controversial Palestinian Ceremony
The timing of the mayor's announcement coincides with growing controversy surrounding a Palestinian flag-raising ceremony originally scheduled for November 30. The ceremony was approved by the previous city council but was later moved to November 15 to align with the date of the Palestinian Declaration of Independence.
This date change has drawn sharp criticism from the Calgary Jewish Federation (CJF), which said it was "disappointed and alarmed" to learn the event would proceed after the rescheduling. "This was an intentional decision that enabled approval of a highly politicized and divisive event on a day that carries significant political meaning, and at a time when Jewish Calgarians are already experiencing unprecedented levels of fear and antisemitism," the organization stated.
Community Reactions and Concerns
The Calgary Jewish Federation's statement, signed by CEO Rob Nagus and board president Lisa Libin, expressed deep concerns about the implications of both the ceremony and the proposed flag policy changes. "Choosing this date is an egregious and deeply harmful action that intensifies the real risks and anxieties our community is experiencing," they wrote.
The federation also voiced apprehension about the potential ban on future flag-raisings, which would include preventing the raising of the Israeli flag scheduled for May. "Allowing one community's flag this week while denying ours in the spring sends a deeply troubling and inequitable message about whose identity and safety are prioritized in municipal spaces," the CJF statement emphasized.
The background to this controversy includes Prime Minister Mark Carney's recognition of the State of Palestine in September as part of efforts to find peace in the Middle East. The mayor's proposed policy change, if approved, would represent a significant shift in how Calgary acknowledges international communities and their heritage celebrations at municipal facilities.
