A stark contrast in the enforcement of municipal bylaws and the protection of free expression is unfolding at Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square, raising questions about a perceived double standard under Mayor Olivia Chow's administration.
Patriot Confronted Over Flag and Anthem
The controversy centers on Scott Youmans, a 58-year-old former forklift operator on a disability pension. On November 17, 2025, the same day the Palestinian flag was raised at Toronto City Hall, police interrupted Youmans as he played a recorded version of Canada's national anthem, O Canada, from a speaker.
The situation escalated on Friday, November 28, 2025. Youmans was approached by a group of City of Toronto security guards while displaying a Canadian flag at the square. In a video captured by freelance photographers, security personnel, some wearing face masks, questioned Youmans about his activities and cited a bylaw they claimed prohibited the display of flags, including the Canadian flag, on city property without exception.
Contrast with Other Demonstrations
This enforcement stands in sharp contrast to the city's response to other activities in the same public space. According to reports, there have been no similar interventions during anti-Israel demonstrations that have included amplified sound and video presentations. Columnist Joe Warmington of the Toronto Sun reported witnessing a video presentation on the night of October 4-5, 2025, which contained messaging against Israel's existence, that proceeded without security or police interruption.
Furthermore, during the city's Nuit Blanche event, a projection on the front of City Hall displaying phrases like "English is a foreign language! Maintaining Beauty Requires Resistance!" was not challenged for bylaw infractions.
Calls for Clarity and Apology
The incident has sparked accusations of selective enforcement and a bias against patriotic expression. Critics argue that if encampments, alleged assaults, and chants like "from the river to the sea" are tolerated in the square, then displaying the national flag or playing the anthem should be protected under freedom of expression.
Warmington and others have called for the city to apologize to Youmans and to provide better training to security staff regarding constitutional freedoms. The City of Toronto's media team stated it would issue a formal response on Wednesday, December 4, 2025. The Toronto Sun has also inquired whether a pro-Palestinian advocate, Naveed Awan, had a permit to show his video in the square, highlighting the demand for consistent application of rules.
The core of the debate lies in the perceived inconsistency: a citizen exercising a peaceful, patriotic act faces scrutiny, while other forms of political protest, including those with contentious messages, appear to operate without similar oversight. This has led to broader concerns about the state of fundamental freedoms and national symbols in Canada's largest city.
