Councillor urges mayor to have U.S. flag removed from city-owned facilities

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This article was published 04/03/2025 (261 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A city councillor wants to lower the American flag in city-owned facilities to protest tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump Tuesday and his repeated threats to annex Canada.

Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt said until the trade war is resolved between Canada and the United States he doesn’t want to see the American flag flying in or outside civic facilities.

“I was at Southdale (Community Centre) on the weekend and there was a flag there,” Wyatt said Tuesday.

“We have to send a symbolic message. Maybe this will help wake up Americans to protest what this president is doing.”

Mayor Scott Gillingham will consider Wyatt’s suggestion, spokesman Colin Fast said, but added the immediate focus is on protecting jobs, investment and city finances.

“The problem here is President Trump, not the American people, the majority of whom recognize this trade war is pointless,” Fast said.

Lora Meseman, executive director of the General Council of Winnipeg Community Centres, doesn’t believe any action is necessary.

“(American) flags wouldn’t have been readily displayed,” Meseman said.

“They may display them for a tournament, when a team comes up from North Dakota, but it is highly unlikely there is an American flag hanging prominently in an arena at other times.”

Wyatt hand-delivered his two-page letter to the mayor’s office just hours before the tariffs were implemented Monday.

“It is with a heavy heart that I make this request, but I believe recent events have made it necessary,” he wrote. “Specifically, the continued remarks from the American president, suggesting that Canada should become the 51st state, is deeply insulting to our proud, independent nation.

“The threat to our economic security, including proposed tariffs, is also alarming. The United States has long depended on Canada as a major exporter of essential goods and this kind of rhetoric disregards the mutually beneficial trade relationship between our two nations.”

Wyatt, noting Winnipeg’s large Ukrainian community, said he is also upset over “the recent public humiliation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy” at the White House last Friday.

“The American president’s statements, which echo Russian propaganda about President Zelenskyy, are dangerous and misleading… his efforts to defend democracy are in direct alignment with the values we hold dear in Canada,” Wyatt wrote.

“I respectfully request that the American flags be removed from any city owned facilities in Winnipeg until such time as relations between Canada and the United States is restored to a healthier state.”

Wyatt said other buildings in the city should also consider removing American flags, including Canada Life Centre, where the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose frequently play against teams from U.S. cities and Blue Cross Park, where the Winnipeg Goldeyes also take on American opponents.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca