Sarnia's mayor wants to remove all American flags from municipal buildings in response to the ongoing trade war and continued threats of annexation.
Mayor Mike Bradley issued a letter on Wednesday, detailing his intention to bring this request to city council during its next meeting on March 31.
"In January of 2025, the United States launched a tariff war against Canada. Many citizens reached out to the mayor's office to request that Sarnia remove American flags from municipal buildings, given that the United States was hostile to Canadian interests, in particular key sectors such as energy, auto, steel and agriculture," read the letter. "At the time, l waited in hopes that common sense and respect for the Canadian people would end the tariff war. Sadly, that was not to be."
In an interview with Sarnia News Today, Bradley said other cities, such as Mississauga and Barrie, have taken similar measures to remove American flags from municipal property.
"It's distressing to do it. I don't like doing it but I think it's the direction we need to take to make the message clear to our American neighbours, that the steps they are taking to disrupt us and to [threaten] to make us the 51st state are simply not acceptable," he said.
As a long-time mayor, Bradley noted the long-serving relationship Sarnia has had with Port Huron, Michigan, but said municipal buildings should not be flying the flag of a country "that is doing everything it can to destabilize us."
"Given the situation, I think it's time for them to come down," Bradley said. "If circumstances change in the future, we can revisit that policy."
Bradley said there are only a few American flags currently up at municipal buildings, including the Pat Stapleton Arena and Clearwater Arena.
City/County Councillor Bill Dennis called Bradley's proposal "absolutely stupid."
"What’s next? A big banner across [the] city stating 'Yankee Go Home?' This is short sighted and childish. This isn’t leadership. This is an emotional response that will hurt our city’s small business community," said Dennis in an emailed statement.
Bradley acknowledged Dennis' comments but said he has received a lot of support from the general public on the matter.
"We are in serious trouble with what's happening to us economically and socially," said Bradley. "I've had a lot of support from the public, and yes, there will be the loud voices -- the Trumpers, the people who don't understand -- this is about us respecting our own sovereignty and our own place in the world, which the rest of the world respects and what used to be our closest neighbour and friend does not."
During the upcoming city council meeting, Bradley will also ask council to approve a recommendation to ask the Lambton Area Water Supply System Board, in consultation with the Rotary Club of Sarnia-Bluewaterland, to remove the American flags located north of the Blue Water Bridge.