Decision to fly pride flag in Clearview stalls at council table

Clearview council does not do proclamations in support of organizations, as per a township policy.

It usually doesn’t raise flags either but in 2014, an exception was made and council agreed to fly the pride flag at town hall in Stayner for the first time.

On Monday, a request to do the same this year was put off.

Council received a request from Simcoe Pride to recognize Pride Week from July 31 to August 8 and raise the pride flag on August 4.

Councillor Robert Walker said he would not support the request because of his Christian beliefs.

CAO Steve Sage said there is an existing policy passed by council against supporting any outside requests. The policy was originally put in place because the township is inundated with these types of requests.

“However, in 2014, I was directed by the mayor and CAO at the time to put the pride flag up, which we did,” said Sage.

The discussion ended there but with Councillor Thom Paterson having asked for a review of the policy, staff will be bringing it back to the table at a later date.