Palestinian Flag Raisings in Canada Ignite Political Firestorm
Communities across Canada, including major cities like Toronto, Brampton, and Calgary, officially raised the Palestinian flag at their city halls during the week of November 17, 2025. The events, held in recognition of Palestinian Independence Day, were met with significant protests. Critics argued that the ceremonies celebrated the violent attacks on Israel that occurred on October 7, 2023.
Municipal Governments Respond with Divergent Approaches
In the wake of the flag raising, Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas introduced an urgent motion to his council seeking to ban the raising of all foreign flags at city hall. The motion was flatly shut down by the council, a move that critics say stifled democratic debate on a contentious issue. Meanwhile, in Toronto, Mayor Olivia Chow chose not to attend the Palestinian flag-raising ceremony. Notably, she also abstained from the Israeli flag-raising event earlier in the year, maintaining a pattern of non-attendance for such international displays.
A Shift from Celebration to Controversy
The editorial board of the publication lamented that such flag-raisings have fundamentally changed in character. They recalled a time when these events were celebrations of friendship between nations, where immigrants would proudly showcase their national dress, food, and culture. The recent event, however, was described differently. The board noted that some attendees wore masks covering their faces and chanted slogans, characterizing it as a "celebration of a different kind of nationalistic culture and an attempt at intimidation."
The National Political Context and Parliamentary Bypass
Some defenders of the flag-raisings pointed to Prime Minister Mark Carney's stated conditional support for Palestinian statehood. However, the editorial highlighted that this argument is flawed. Carney's conditions included the demilitarization of Gaza and elections excluding the terrorist organization Hamas, requirements with no indication of being met. Furthermore, the piece criticized Carney for a "shocking disregard for parliamentary democracy," noting he bypassed the House of Commons. This action came just months after MPs voted decisively (204-118) against recognizing Palestinian statehood. Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis condemned this move on Facebook, accusing the PM of acting like a "tsar" and circumventing the will of Parliament.
The editorial concludes by endorsing Mayor Farkas's view, arguing that the custom of raising foreign flags at city halls has become divisive and hateful. It calls for municipal governments to stop dabbling in international politics, asserting that the only flag that should fly at a Canadian city hall is the nation's own red and white maple leaf flag.
