No orange Every Child Matters flag will be flown at Richmond City Hall this year on Truth and Reconciliation Day, despite one city councillor calling for it.
This suggestion came after a Steveston resident came to city council on Monday asking for flags to be raised to support social movements and inclusion.
Andrew Reid challenged Richmond city council to change its flag policy to allow the pride flag to be raised in Richmond. On top of that, he asked city council to fly the orange Every Child Matters flag on Truth and Reconciliation Day, a day to reflect on the residential school system.
In order to fly these flags, however, the city’s flag policy needs to be modified.
When Coun. Michael Wolfe asked to table a motion to change the policy, allowing the Every Child Matters flag to fly this Friday, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie ruled that out of order.
Brodie said Wolfe needed to give a “notice of motion” before bringing that motion forward to a city council meeting.
Some community members took to Twitter criticizing Brodie for not allowing the motion.
However, Coun. Harold Steves pointed out on Twitter that the mayor was in the right because a notice of motion has to be brought forward in a previous meeting before a motion can be put on the council table for deliberation.
“A motion to refer the item to staff for discussion at a future meeting was in order. However, the motion was to change the flag by-law which requires a notice of motion,” Steves explained in his tweet.
The current flag policy only allows flags of different countries, provinces or territories to be raised at city hall as well as the Olympic flag at special occasions.
To commemorate Truth and Reconciliation Day, the City of Richmond is closing many of its facilities, but no symbols or flags will be flown.
Karina Reid, who is Andrew Reid’s wife, said she finds it disappointing that she has to travel to Delta with her children to commemorate Truth and Reconciliation Day.
Delta is planning to light up its city hall and arts centre in orange and orange flags will be flown throughout the city.
In the end, Richmond city council voted unanimously to ask city staff to look into amending the flag policy.
