Ontario briefly considered flag-burning law — then abandoned it after internal pushback
Global News
The proposal was scheduled to be discussed at Ford's cabinet on May 21, Ontario's Flag Day, but was pulled from ministers' briefing materials shortly before cabinet convened.
A planned law that would’ve mandated the flying of the Ontario flag at all provincial buildings and banned the desecration of the Canadian flag has been scuttled by the Ford government, Global News has learned, after members of the Progressive Conservative caucus questioned the necessity of the bill.
Multiple sources told Global News the proposal, spearheaded as part of a patriotism push by Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism Graham McGregor, would have potentially violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and may have faced court challenges.
The proposal was scheduled to be discussed at Ford’s cabinet on May 21 – Ontario’s Flag Day – but was pulled from ministers’ briefing materials shortly before cabinet convened.
In a brief interview with Global News, McGregor confirmed that his ministry “won’t be tabling any legislation this spring session” but said the intent behind the measure was to “promote unity” in the province and country.
“We live in the best province, the best country in the world, so we’re looking at options,” McGregor said. “But as far as internal deliberations, caucus, cabinet, etc., I just don’t have a comment to share.”
Sources told Global News the law would have made it mandatory to fly both the Ontario and Canadian flags at all government of Ontario buildings, in effect creating the need for a secondary flagpole to accommodate the provincial banner.
The proposal wouldn’t have applied to schools, hospitals or facilities only funded by the Ontario government.
While some sources said the law would have also included language that would allow for other flags, such as the Pride flag, to be flown, others in government expressed concern that mandating the Ontario and Canadian flags would have effectively prevented other flags from being recognized.
Flu season has arrived early, with CHEO reporting eight times more cases than last year as hospitals warn of rising infections among children and seniors.
Nova Scotia’s largest utility is responding to a stinging letter from Premier Tim Houston by insisting it hasn't broken any laws.
A British Columbia Liberal MP said Prime Minister Mark Carney "will have to answer" questions on why he reversed a budget commitment on tax credits in Alberta energy deal.
AFN Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak has said Budget 2025 failed First Nations because it did not include more infrastructure funding and educational resources for their communities.
Conservation officers in B.C. say they've captured four more grizzly bears that are being tested to determine if they were involved in an attack on a school group last month.
Joshua Wright says a yellow cedar tree he photographed last year was "incredible," the largest he'd ever seen in a decade of hiking around Vancouver Island.
Canadians could face grocery bills up to $1,000 higher in 2026 as food prices rise 4-6 per cent, with restaurants and meat seeing the biggest jumps.
Despite a growing homelessness problem in the South Okanagan city, council voted 4-2 against the project and the millions of provincial dollars that would come along with it.
Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon told a House of Commons committee the updated strategy will come next year, after saying in the fall it would come this year.
Reports emerged this week of U.S. government procurement plans to order 20 Senator vehicles for its ICE officers, a move worth roughly $10 million.
The 16-year-old was arrested in April after police said a credible threat was made against students at Citadel High School.
A committee meeting also heard an extra $194 million is needed to pay for carbon price fuel charges that the provincial government didn't collect.
The premier of Nova Scotia is calling for an investigation into how a major power utility has handled a cyberattack.