A planned law that would’ve mandated the flying of the Ontario flag at all provincial buildings and banned the desecration of the Canadian flag has been scuttled by the Ford government, Global News has learned, after members of the Progressive Conservative caucus questioned the necessity of the bill.
Multiple sources told Global News the proposal, spearheaded as part of a patriotism push by Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism Graham McGregor, would have potentially violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and may have faced court challenges.
The proposal was scheduled to be discussed at Ford’s cabinet on May 21 – Ontario’s Flag Day – but was pulled from ministers’ briefing materials shortly before cabinet convened.
In a brief interview with Global News, McGregor confirmed that his ministry “won’t be tabling any legislation this spring session” but said the intent behind the measure was to “promote unity” in the province and country.
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“We …