Canadian flag absent from Sask. government's media room throughout 2023
CBC
The Canadian flag has seemingly not been on the display in the radio room at the Legislative Building, where the Saskatchewan government hosts announcements and news conferences, for almost a year now. The move has many questioning its intent.
CBC has been unable to find the Canadian flag on display in any footage from the radio room in 2023. The last time it was seen was in November 2022.
The province would not confirm when exactly it removed the Canadian flag from the radio room, but said in an email statement attributed to the executive council that the flags are adjusted in accordance with protocol that outlines the order of precedence for when the provincial flag is displayed among other flags.
"Specific to media events in the radio room, there have been times when both the Canadian and Saskatchewan flag are displayed and times when only the Saskatchewan flag is displayed," the statement said.
The province said the Canadian flag is flown in other areas of the legislative building.
People CBC spoke with in Saskatoon and Regina about the change expressed exasperation, confusion and curiosity.
Anmol Sandhu said the flag should be on the premises to uphold the Canadian identity and called the removal "disrespectful."
"It shouldn't just be the province, because the province isn't a country by itself," she said.
"You have to represent both on equal levels. Without Canada, there isn't Saskatchewan. Without Saskatchewan, there isn't Canada."
Tyrell Sawatzky said it is the latest "joke" in a series of moves by the government, including spending "hundreds of thousands of dollars" to put up Saskatchewan flags at every school in the province.
"They seem like a party without a platform. Right now they're just doing things and hoping something sticks," he said.
"It's nationalism, that's what it is. They've said it themselves, they're trying to make Saskatchewan independent to some extent."
"That's weird. They should put [the Canadian flag] back," Cara Zorgdrager said. "Why would they even remove it?"
Steve Boutilier said he is frustrated and disappointed with the province's move. He said many people are sharing similar sentiments over social media.
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