KLEIN: Regina got it right: It’s time for Winnipeg and Manitoba to follow

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The City of Regina has done what every Canadian city should have done long ago. It has made the reasonable and fair decision to stop flying the flags of other countries in front of city hall, focusing instead on the symbols that unite its citizens — the flags of Canada, Saskatchewan, the City of Regina, Treaty 4, the Métis Nation, and the Union Jack.

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This is what municipal buildings should represent: the city, the province, and the nation we all share. It is not a difficult concept and yet too many politicians have allowed themselves to be swayed by vocal activists who demand special recognition for their own causes at the expense of unity.

This is not about denying the importance of different cultures. It is about reaffirming the importance of Canada. We are a nation of diverse backgrounds, but at the end of the day, we are Canadians first. That is what the flags outside city hall should reflect. It should not be a patchwork of international allegiances or a constant battlefield for activists pressuring elected officials to make symbolic statements instead of doing the job they were elected to do.

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Regina’s decision eliminates division. It sets a clear standard that is fair to everyone. No flag of any foreign nation will be given preferential treatment. No group will be able to lobby for its own national identity to be represented over others. Instead, the focus will remain on the community we all belong to — the city, the province and the country we live in.

I have previously written in The Winnipeg Sun that this is exactly what should be done. It is not a radical position. It is a common-sense approach that respects the purpose of government buildings and the values of the community. The decision in Regina was unanimous. That alone should send a message. City councillors across the political spectrum agreed that this was the right thing to do. When was the last time politicians agreed on anything? That tells you just how obvious this decision was.

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Winnipeg and Manitoba should take note.

A divided Manitoba

Premier Wab Kinew campaigned on the idea of “One Manitoba.” But where is the evidence that he truly believes that? His government has consistently pushed programs and funding grants that create division rather than unity. Ministers such as Nahanni Fontaine have championed policies that cater to specific groups rather than treating all Manitobans as equals. If anything, the NDP slogan should be “A Divided Manitoba.” It would certainly be more accurate.

Policies that treat everyone the same are the best policies. That is what real equality looks like. When we start carving out exceptions for certain groups, we create division. We build resentment. We undermine the very idea of unity. Look no further than the University of Winnipeg, which allows a lounge where white students are not allowed. This is not inclusion. It is segregation. It is not progress. It is regressive. And it is, quite frankly, criminal. Imagine the outcry if any institution tried to establish a lounge where people of a different race were excluded. It would be condemned immediately. And rightfully so. There is no excuse for this kind of divisive policy in 2024.

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Canada’s strength has always been its ability to bring people together. We do not need to erase cultures to achieve unity, but we must put Canada first. That is what a melting pot is about. It is not about discarding heritage. It is about merging backgrounds into something stronger — something that binds us all together. We can celebrate different cultures without losing sight of the fact that we are all Canadians.

That is why Regina’s decision is so important. It reinforces that basic principle. The flag outside city hall should not be used to make political statements or to appease activist groups. It should be a symbol of the community it represents. In Regina, that means Canada, Saskatchewan, and the city itself. That is exactly as it should be.

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Winnipeg should follow Regina’s lead. Manitoba should follow Regina’s lead. The flag outside city hall should be the Canadian flag, the Manitoba flag, and the Winnipeg flag. That is it. If an international dignitary visits, fine. Raise their flag for the day as a diplomatic courtesy. But beyond that, there is no need for foreign symbols in front of government buildings.

We are Canada. We do not have to apologize for that. We do not have to dilute our national identity to appease activists. We do not have to accommodate every demand for special treatment. What we do have to do is remember who we are: a nation built on unity, not division.

Regina got it right. Now it’s time for the rest of Canada to do the same.

— Kevin Klein is a former Tory cabinet minister, a former city councillor and President & CEO of Klein Group Ltd.

Have thoughts on what’s going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.ca

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