Communities across the country, from Toronto to Brampton to Calgary, raised the Palestinian flag at city halls in recognition of Palestinian Independence Day last week, despite protests that the events celebrated the brutal attacks on Israel, Oct. 7, 2023.

In the wake of the flag raising, Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas brought an urgent motion to council to ban the raising of foreign flags at city hall. It was flatly shut down by council. So much for democratic debate on controversial issues. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow did not attend the flag raising in her city. She also didn’t attend the raising of the Israeli flag earlier this year.

Once upon a time, flag raisings such as this were celebrations of the friendship between two nations. Immigrants would proudly wear their national dress and c

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