A disabled Canadian patriot was stopped from playing the national anthem at Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square in what witnesses are calling an unprecedented enforcement of municipal bylaws during a Palestinian flag-raising ceremony.
Controversial Intervention During Flag Event
Scott Youmans, a 58-year-old disabled man with a medical service dog named Freedom, was playing O Canada through a portable sound system Monday morning when Toronto Police officers intervened. The incident occurred approximately one hour before the scheduled Palestinian flag raising at City Hall.
According to witnesses, security personnel requested police assistance to stop the playing of Canada's national anthem, citing a municipal bylaw that prohibits amplified sound in the square without permission. Youmans, who receives a disability pension for serious health issues, expressed shock at the enforcement.
"It was surreal," Youmans said in an interview. "I saw no reason for it. It's our anthem. It was very confusing."
Selective Bylaw Enforcement Raises Questions
The City of Toronto spokesperson Saira Virani pointed to Section 237-3 of Toronto's bylaws, which states that no person shall use any device for amplification of sound within Nathan Phillips Square without proper permission. However, observers noted this bylaw is rarely enforced against other groups.
Journalist and lawyer Caryma Sa'd, who witnessed the incident, expressed surprise at the selective enforcement. "I have never seen anything like this enforced before," said Sa'd, who has attended hundreds of demonstrations. She noted that the anthem couldn't even be heard near where the Palestinian flag raising was scheduled to occur an hour later.
Toronto Police confirmed their involvement, stating: "City of Toronto corporate security had a no-amplification order in place at NPS yesterday. When a speaker was used, security directed it to be turned off and TPS assisted them."
Patriotic Response Without Amplification
Despite the intervention, the patriotic demonstration continued. Youmans and other participants broke into an a cappella rendition of O Canada, which police acknowledged they didn't stop since it didn't involve amplification devices.
Youmans, who was born in 1967 during Canada's centennial year, described himself as "Canada first" and "Canada always." He clarified that his protest wasn't specifically targeting the Palestinian flag raising but rather his belief that no foreign flags should fly at City Hall.
"I don't think any flag from any country other than Canada should be flown at City Hall," he stated, adding that he had similarly protested when a singer changed the words to O Canada during the World Series.
The incident has sparked discussion about double standards in protest enforcement at Toronto's public spaces, particularly given the frequent demonstrations that have occurred since October 2023.
