HomeMy WebLinkAboutCLD-022-07
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REPORT
CLERK'S DEPARTMENT
Meeting:
GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Date:
Tuesday, May 22,2007
Report #:
CLD-022-07
File #:
~du\1on4tqfJA-~19 --dl
By-law #:
Subject:
FLAG RAISING/PROCLAMATION/PARADES POLICIES
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report CLD-022-07 be received;
2. THAT the policy related to flag raisings as outlined in Report CLD-022-07 be approved;
3. THAT the policy related to proclamations as outlined in Report CLD-022-07 be
approved;
4. THAT the Municipality's current practice of processing parade requests continue;
5. THAT the request for the Annual Orange Parade to be held in Orono on July 7, 2007 be
approved, provided the organizers apply for and obtain a Road Occupancy Permit from
the Engineering Services Department; and
6. THAT Gary Cole, District Master, West Durham District L.O.L. and Ron Milne be
advised of Coun ., decision.
Reviewed by: nklin Wu,
ft Chief Administrative Officer
Submitted by:
PLB*ct
REPORT NO.: ClD-022-07
PAGE 2
BACKGROUND
At its meeting held on April 30, 2007, Council considered correspondence from Gary Cole,
District Master, West Durham District L.O.L. requesting Council to declare the week of July 6
to 13, 2007 as "Orange Week", requesting permission to hold a parade in the village of Orono on
July 7 and requesting that the Canadian Orange Standard flag be flown at the Municipal
Administrative Centre in Bowmanville during the week. At that same meeting, correspondence
was received from Ron Milne voicing strong objection to the issuance of a permit to allow the
march of an Orange Parade in Newcastle last July and requesting that a future march not be
permitted in Clarington. Copies of these letters are attached for information.
In response to these letters, the following resolution was passed:
"THAT Correspondence Items D-11 and D-12 be referred to the Municipal Clerk for a
review and report on the municipal policy related to parades and flag raisings to
determine appropriate occasions to be acknowledged."
Currently, the Municipality does not have a formal policy on either parades or flag raisings. Also,
in reviewing this matter, it has been determined that we do not have an official policy on
proclamations, so this report addresses that area as well.
In order to determine municipal practices, the municipalities within the Region of Durham and
the City of Toronto were contacted to determine policies that are in place. Within the Region,
only the Cities of Oshawa and Pickering have adopted formal policies pertaining to flag raisings;
only the City of Oshawa has a policy pertaining to proclamations.
FLAG RAISINGS
The Municipality is requested, at numerous times throughout the year, to display flags at the
Municipal Administrative Centre and to arrange flag raising ceremonies. These requests are
submitted to the Clerk's Department and placed on the Council agenda for approval. Once
approved by Council, the flag raising ceremonies are arranged through the Mayor's office.
REPORT NO.: CLD-022-07
PAGE 3
It is recommended that a flag raising policy be adopted by Council as follows:
The courtesy flagpole is identified as the flag pole at the Municipal Administrative Centre
that normally holds the Municipality of Clarington Flag and will be considered our "guest
flagpole" to be used to hold flags of other nations or for awareness campaigns.
a) Requests for displaying flags and flag raisings may be approved by Council for:
· Non-profit or charitable organizations
· Recognition of national or international dignitaries visiting the Municipality
· Public awareness campaigns
b) Requests for displaying of flags and flag raisings shall not be approved for:
· Political parties or political organizations
· Religious organizations or the celebration of religious events
· If the intent is to defame the integrity of Clarington Council
· If the event or organization has no direct relationship to the Municipality of
Clarington
This policy is in keeping with the policies in place in other municipalities contacted.
PROCLAMA TIONSIT AG DAYS
The Municipality receives approximately 25 requests for proclamations/tag days each year.
Upon receipt, the request is placed on the Council agenda for Council direction and, upon
approval, the proclamation is advertised on the community bulletin board. If the organization
requesting the proclamation provides a ceremonial document, it is signed by the Mayor once the
proclamation has received Council approval and provided back to the organization. It is
recommended that a proclamation policy be adopted as follows:
REPORT NO.: CLD-022-07
PAGE 4
Upon receipt of a request for a proclamation/tag day, the request will be placed on the
Council agenda for approval. An organization does not have exclusive rights to the day,
week or month of their proclamation, however, tag days will not be approved for more
than one organization for the same date.
a) Requests for Proclamations shall be approved for:
· Charitable fund raising campaigns
. Public awareness campaigns
. Arts and cultural celebrations
. Special Honours
b) Requests for Proclamations shall not be approved for:
· Matters of political controversy, religious beliefs or individual conviction
· Events or organizations with no direct relationship to the Municipality of
Clarington
· Campaigns or events contrary to law, Municipal policies or by-laws
. Campaigns intended for profit-making purposes
Proclamations do not constitute a personal or civic endorsement.
PARADES
Currently, Council considers requests for parades, in accordance with our Special Events
By-law. There are no restrictions upon the types of parades which will be approved, provided
the organizers can comply with the requirements of the by-law. This includes approval of the
Emergency Services Department, the Durham Regional Police, Region of Durham (if applicable)
and Ontario Provincial Police (if applicable) as well as providing $2 Million insurance, showing
REPORT NO.: CLD-022-07
PAGE 5
the Municipality of Clarington as an additional insured. If accessing a Regional Road, the
Region of Durham must also be named as an additional insured.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it
subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law. Specifically, the Charter states that
everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
. Freedom of conscience and religion;
. Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and
other media of communication;
. Freedom of peaceful assembly; and
. Freedom of association
Based on the foregoing, it is recommended that Council not limit the occasions for which
parades will be approved, except in the case of an organization promoting an illegal activity.
CONCLUSION
It is respectfully recommended that the policies outlined within this report related to
proclamations and flag raisings be approved and that the current practice of approving parade
requests be continued.
ATTACHMENTS #1 - Letters from Gary Cole
#2 - Letters from Ron Milne
#3 - Flag Raising Policy
#4 - Proclamation Policy
Interested Parties to be Advised of Council's Decision:
Gary Cole, District Master, West Durham District L.O.L.
Ron Milne
AGENDA
'0 Attachment #1 to
. 7APR16 At-110=16: Report CLD-022-07
West CDurliam CDistrict L.O.L.
c/o Gary Cole
42 King St. W.
Bowmanville, ON
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February 22, 2007
Municipality of Clarington
Attention: Mayor Jim Abernethy and Council
40 Temperance Street
Bowmanville, ON, LIC 3A6
Re: Orange Week 2007
Dear Sirs:
I am writing to you to request that Council officially declare the week of July 6 - 13,2007,
Orange Week in the Municipality ofClarington. We have scheduled several functions for both
for members and non-members of our organization during that week, which will commence with
the Annual Orange Parade in Orono, on July 7th.
We would also ask that during this week that the Canadian Orange Standard flag be flown at the
Town Hall in Bowmanville. We will, of course, supply the flag for this purpose.
I look forward to your response.
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Yours truly,
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Gary Cole
District Master
West Durham District L.O.L.
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AGENDA
West (Durliam (District L.O.L.
c/o Gary Cole
42 King St. W. ,
Bowmanville, ON LIC IR3>7APR23 PM 2:39:22
April I, 2007
Municipality of Clarington
Attention: Mayor Jim Abernethy and Council
40 Temperance Street
Bowmanville, ON, LIC 3A6
Re: Annual Loyal Orange Lodge Parade
Dear Sirs:
I am writing to you on behalf of the parade committee for our annual July celebrations and
would like to ask for your permission to hold a parade in the village of Orono on July 7th,
commencing at the fairgrounds at I :00 p.m.
Another member or our committee has already been working with Mr. Ron Baker, Traffic
Coordinator for the Municipality of Clarington for this function.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
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Gary Cole
District Master
West Durham District L.O.L.
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Attachment #2 to
Report CLD-022-07
Fleming, Cindy
From: claire milne [clairemilne@sympatico.ca]
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2007 8:17 PM
To: Clerks Depatment Outside
Subject: parade
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to inform you of my strong objection to allow or release a permit to allow the march of an
orange parade in Newcastle.
I was shocked and appalled to see this bigoted fete in my local town last July. I have lived in Newcastle for over 10
years and have never seen a political
or anti religious march in that time except for last year and do not expect to see another.
I hope i have given enough notice for your decision to take my objection into account and look forward to hearing
from you at your earliest convenience.
Please do not hesitate to call if you need clarification at my reasons for being against such marches.
Yours sincerely
Ron Milne
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To the Members of Council
This letter is further to my email of April 12 2007 regarding my objection for a July 12
Orange Parade March in Newcastle I will not be able to attend the meeting of April 30 to
voice my concerns in person, so I hope this letter will be heard by the members of council
before a vote.
First of all I was disgusted to see grown men drunk in the street. We live on Edward St
West and not only did my 12 year old son witness someone laying on the sidewalk after
falling down drunk, but was also screamed at as he walked our dog.
My objection is also a personal one. I left Scotland more then 20 years ago to avoid this
kind of bigoted march. I will not get into the history, or the why's of this particular
march, suffice to say it is offensive to me, and to all Catholics.
The orange order are nothing short of a hate group and are the shame of Scotland and of
Northern Ireland and why they are allowed to continue this practice is beyond my
understanding.
We have entered an era of tolerance and understanding in a new millennium in this
country and as members of council you have a responsibility to take us forward and
not back into a predigest past.
I appreciate you time and would like to be informed when you decision is made.
Yours Ron Milne
Cl~-!llgton
Attachment #3 to
Report CLD-022-07
DRAFT
Administrative and Corporate Policies
H26 - Flag Raising
Section:
Category:
Subsection:
Application:
H
Operations
H-26
All
Employees
Date Approved:
Last Revised:
Approved by:
1. Purpose:
To ensure the appropriate criteria is in place when Council is requested to raise a flag in the
Courtyard at the Municipal Administrative Centre.
2. Policy:
The courtesy flagpole is identified as the flag pole at the Municipal Administrative Centre
that normally holds the Municipality of Clarington Flag and will be considered our "guest
flagpole" to be used to hold flags of other nations or for awareness campaigns.
3. Procedures:
a) Requests for displaying flags and flag raisings may be approved by Council for:
· Non-profit or charitable organizations
· Recognition of national or international dignitaries visiting the Municipality
. Public awareness campaigns
b) Requests for displaying of flags and flag raisings shall not be approved for:
· Political parties or political organizations
· Religious organizations or the celebration of religious events
· If the intent is to defame the integrity of Clarington Council
· If the event or organization has no direct relationship to the Municipality of
Clarington
4. Appendices:
None
Page 1 of 1 - Non-Affiliated and Others: H26
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AuaCIlIIl\,;Ul rr"T LV
Report CLD-022-07
DRAFT
Administrative and Corporate Policies
H27 - PROCLAMATIONS
Section: H
Category: Operations
Subsection: H27
Application: All
Employees
Date Approved:
Last Revised:
Approved by:
1. Purpose:
To ensure the appropriate criteria is in place when Council receives a request to issue a
proclamation.
2. Policy:
a) Requests for Proclamations shall be approved for:
. Charitable fundraising campaigns
. Public awareness campaigns
. Arts and cultural celebrations
. Special Honours
b) Requests for Proclamations shall not be approved for:
. Matters of political controversy, religious beliefs or individual conviction
· Events or organizations with no direct relationship to the Municipality of
Clarington
· Campaigns or events contrary to law, Municipal policies or by-laws
. Campaigns intended for profit-making purposes
.
3. Procedures:
Upon receipt of a request for a proclamation/tag day, the request will be placed on the
Council agenda for approval. An organization does not have exclusive rights to the day,
week or month of their proclamation, however, tag days will not be approved for more than
one organization for the same date.
4. Appendices:
None
Page 1 of I - Non-Affiliated and Others: H27