Flag poles at Fort Frances Civic Centre, June 2023. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia Broadcasting

A committee of council is giving it okay to a new flag policy for the town of Fort Frances.

It updates the town’s existing policy as it prepares to fly the flags of Treaty 3 and the Metis Nation of Ontario outside the Civic Centre.

The policy permits the two Indigenous flags outside the Civic Centre but nowhere else.

Councillors Mandi Olson finds that strange.

“It just seems really strange to me that, like the civic center outside, we’re willing to hang flags from other countries, other cities in different countries, and then within our own council chambers, we’re not willing to display our own treaty flag,” says Olson.

The United States and International Falls flags currently fly outside the Civic Centre. The U.S. flag is also found at the Sorting Gap Marina.

Olson also questions the reason behind only the flag of Canada being permitted to fly at Point Park.

She says that could lead to some, “controversial conversations.”

Administration was not able to give an immediate response to why the Treaty 3 or Metis Nation of Ontario flags were not to be included among the flags in the council chambers.

An informal Internet search of similar policies by 93.1 The Border reveals the cities of Ottawa and Calgary display Indigenous flags in their council chambers.

Ottawa city council has displayed the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council and the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation flags since 2019.

The city of Calgary displays the flags of seven First Nations represented by Treaty 7 and the Metis Nation among the 21 in its council chamber.

Interim Chief Administrative Officer Travis Rob says the town is limited by the number of flag poles at the other municipal facilities.

“In terms of the other sites listed, they are listed with the flags that are flying currently. That’s all we have for flag poles. So, at Point Park, we have one flag pole. It flies the Canadian flag by flag etiquette,” says Rob.

The policy also outlines the rules for flying other flags that recognize community organizations or causes.

Council is expected to discuss the policy at its meeting on Monday.