Ontario homeowner allowed to keep flying anti-Trudeau flag after town backs down – National Post

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The homeowner put the F*ck Trudeau flag up after the September federal election, following her disappointment with the Liberal party victory

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A woman in the Niagara region city of Port Colborne, Ontario, is allowed to keep flying an anti-Trudeau flag on her home after challenging a city order to remove it.

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The flag says F*ck Trudeau, with the u represented by a maple leaf.

The homeowner put the flag up the day after the September 2021 federal election, following her disappointment with the Liberal party victory.

In November, the homeowner, referred to as Melissa, read a story in a local newspaper about the citys displeasure with the flag on her home. She was unaware of any controversy until then.

Days later, she received a registered notice from the city that she was required to remove the flag for violating a Port Colborne property standards bylaw that states exterior walls of a dwelling and their components shall be free of unauthorized signs, painted slogans, graffiti and similar defacements.

The Alberta-based Canadian Consitution Foundation (CCF) became aware of the case and assisted the homeowner in appealing the order. The CCF is a non-partisan charitable organization that focuses on cases involving Canadian constitutional rights and freedoms.

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Like every citizen of Canada, Melissa has a Charter-protected right to express her political views. She is flying a flag on her own property, expressing a political sentiment that frankly is not even that uncommon. If her flag bothers some people at Port Colborne city hall, I suggest they drive down a different street instead of trying to tell Melissa what she can and cannot say, said CCF Litigation Director Christine Van Geyn in a statement.

Van Geyn told National Post the city specifically cited the language used in the flag, suggesting it was profanity. Technically, it is not profanity, Van Geyn said, adding the homeowner sourced the flag online.

Melissa filed a notice and paid a fee to challenge the citys bylaw order, and was initially told her appeal would not be heard.

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But this week, under threat of legal action, the city rescinded the order, and Melissa is allowed to keep flying the flag.

Michelle Idzenga, a spokesperson for the city of Port Colborne, said the citys bylaw department had received multiple complaints about the flag, which is why an investigation was initiated and an order to remove issued.

Following further investigation, the city closed the file and notified the property owner. She said the city hasnt received any calls recently and were not aware of any concerns.

Van Geyn said the matter was a victory for freedom of expression and Port Colborne was wrong in its actions.

We hope that Melissas situation will serve as an example to other towns and cities, and that citizens across Canada will remain free to express their political views without interference from municipal bureaucrats, said Van Geyn.

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We hope that Melissas situation will serve as an example to other towns and cities, and that citizens across Canada will remain free to express their political views without interference from municipal bureaucrats, - @cvangeyn

Melissa, who has received positive support in the community, said she is pleased Port Colborne has backed down. Im proud to continue to be able to express my political views, which is my right as a Canadian, she said in a statement issued by CCF.

Van Geyn said this was not the first time the CCF has successfully challenged a municipality on the issue of signs that express political views. The organization previously took on Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, which was attempting to pass a bylaw banning people from putting up signs supporting candidates in a municipal election.

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Ontario homeowner allowed to keep flying anti-Trudeau flag after town backs down - National Post