Mr. Enzo De Divitiis, Chairperson 2020/2021 Pride Niagara Board of Directors, stated that his email which was attached as correspondence to today's agenda had been forwarded to staff with his requests prior to Mayor's Bylsma's radio interview on Thursday June 11, 2020 with CKTB 610/iHeart Radio and that the apology that was provided by the municipality relating to the confusion and miscommunication with respect to his previous emails and requests no longer seemed genuine and were a lie. Mr. De Divitiis stated that he would like to see something positive and progressive coming from this issue and that the majority of the individuals that were opposed to the Pride flag being raised was due to religious and/or personal views which should not be part of the decision and this is not what the Pride flag represents. Mr. De Divitiis stated that the Pride Flag represents equality, justice and freedom with each colour on the flag providing a different meaning for people that are not being represented and that he would like for Council to consider raising the Pride Flag in 2021 and he would also like to see Council receive some education and training so they represent and acknowledge everyone within their community and show accountability in this regard.
There was a number of comments, concerns and questions raised by Members of Council, including but not limited to the following:
- When was the first time that Pride Niagara had reached out to the local municipalities to raise the Pride flag. (Response - Mr. De Divitiis stated that Pride Niagara has been reaching out to the twelve local municipalities for 7 to 8 years requesting the Pride flag to be raised).
- It is a shame that this issue has come to this and that the Pride Flag was not raised once it was determined that the Pride flag had not been raised as the other eleven municipalities had done without issue or controversy.
- The flying of the Pride Flag does not diminish anyone's rights or beliefs but acknowledges that the LGBTQ community has been discriminated against, marginalized and abused by this country and it says that "you are welcome here".
- Based on the correspondence received and social media posts, the majority of the community was in support of the Township raising the Pride flag and are supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.
- Apologize for the Township for not acknowledging and/or addressing the request to raise the Pride Flag and participate in social media promotion in this regard as the request was not to all of Council but to the Mayor only.
- Suggested that Council should undertake sensitivity training.
- The Mayor stated that he had no recollection, as a previous Member of Council, over the past 7 to 8 years of the Township ever receiving a request to raise the Pride Flag.
- Mayor Bylsma stated that he would like to take up Mr. De Divitiis' offer to provide information and training to empower Council Members in order to better understand diversity and equality.
- The Township has raised other organization's flags without a specific flag raising policy and has set precedent by flying other organization's flags in the past; however, Council should adopt a policy to clearly address these types of matters which staff can then follow based on the policy.
- The Township currently has two flag related policies which address where the Township has flags and when they are lowered to half-mast; however, the Township does not have a policy with respect to requests for an organization's flags to be raised.
The Acting Chair called a brief recess of the meeting at approximately 1 p.m. for approximately three minutes.
Councillor Christopher Coady moved the a resolution with Councillor William Reilly seconding the motion; however, the Mayor requested that, as per Section 7.17 of the Procedural By-law, that Councillor Coady's motion be separated and voted on separately as there were three distinct propositions as part of the motion.
The original motion read as follows:
That, the correspondence received from Enzo De Divitiis, Chairperson 2020/2021, Pride Niagara Board of Directors, dated June 10, 2020 requesting the Township of West Lincoln to:
- Raise the Pride Niagara flag on Tuesday, June 1, 2021; and,
- That, the Township share some type of virtual communication/message on their social media and provide the same for Pride Niagara to share explaining that the Township wanted to be a part of the celebration of equality with Niagara's LGBTQ+ community and that there was a miscommunication and plans are in effect for next year to which would be signed on behalf of the Township of West Lincoln Mayor and Council;
be received and supported; and,
That, the Township of West Lincoln fly the Pride flag for the remainder of June 2020; and,
That, all flag raising requests, outside of this motion, be suspended until such time as Township staff have prepared a flag raising policy and reported back at a future Council or Committee meeting.
The Clerk confirmed that Section 7.17 of the Procedural By-law does allow for the division of a motion if there is more than one distinct proposition. The Clerk stated that it was her opinion that there were three distinct propositions to the motion moved by Councillor Coady.
Following discussion regarding the Mayor's request to divide the motion and how the motions would be voted on, the Acting Chair, put forth the motions in the order that they were presented.
Councillor Rehner requested that a recorded vote be taken for the original motion as presented on the agenda as well as the second motion to fly the Pride Flag for the remainder of June 2020.