Results of Barrheads crosswalk vote reflects democratic process: mayor [Video]

An Alberta mayor says his town’s vote to ban Pride and other flags and crosswalks from public property reflects democracy in action.

Residents of Barrhead, Alta., voted in support of a bylaw that effectively bans decorative flags and crosswalks, like those recognizing the LGBTQ2 community, from municipal property.

The bylaw was drafted after a petition signed by more than 700 people called for neutrality among town councillors.

Mayor Dave McKenzie says council responded to the petition by giving residents a chance to voice their opinions and that roughly one-third of eligible voters did so in Monday’s vote.

The town has said council will now go forward with second and third readings of the so-called “Neutral Spaces Bylaw” and that it will soon remove existing crosswalks or flags, including a Pride crosswalk, the Royal Canadian Legion flag and the Treaty 6 flag.