Hamilton City Manager Marnie Cluckie and the City’s top staffers have removed American flags from all city facilities – including war memorials that commemorate the joint efforts of Canadian and American soldiers fighting the Nazis during World War II.
The staff senior leadership team made the decision last week, with no public announcement or communication to City Council.
Ward 5 Councillor Matt Francis was one of the first councillors to learn about the decision, but only after residents living near Dieppe Memorial Park reported a suspected theft of the U.S. Stars and Stripes flag on March 11.
It was quickly learned the flag was not stolen, that it had been removed shortly after the senior staff decision.
TPR asked Mayor Andrea Horwath’s staff about the removal. Chief of Staff Uzma Qureshi stated the decision was made by staff.
The City Manager’s Office did not respond to emails. (City Manager Marnie Cluckie is on vacation this week.)
TPR traced the decision beginning from the staff who maintain parks and were order to remove the American flags to the seniormost managers who made the decision.
[During the day, Council members were asking if TPR had determined who made the decision. The City Manager did not communicate the decision to councillors.]
When asked, General Manager of Public Works Carlyle Khan said the decision was made during the March 11 Senior Leadership Team meeting.
“There’s a discussion at SLT about how we can support the city as we go into this tariff war,” Khan stated. “The general direction was to remove flags at the city’s facilities.
“It was misinterpreted,” Khan continued. “We didn’t talk about memorials, but some staff understood it included that too.”
He said American flags on memorials, including the Dieppe Memorial, will be returned to flagpoles immediately.
Most councillors TPR spoke with today disagreed with senior staff making a political decision.
They noted that most American flags are displayed in arenas and other sporting facilities because of the deep friendships between Canadians and Americans.
One asked how the ban on American flags will be applied during the upcoming City of Hamilton-run CANUSA games with Flint, Michigan.
All councillors interviewed expressed disappointment and disagreement about the Dieppe Memorial flag removal.
US Flag Removed from Dieppe War Memorial: RHLI Regimental Associaton Pushed Back
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Regimental Association reported someone had removed the US flag from the monument at Dieppe Memorial Park.
The memorial honours all who fought in the 1942 Dieppe Raid, including American Rangers who fought alongside Canadian troops. One hundred ninety-seven members of the RHLI died in the August 19, 1942 raid.
The Association’s executive posted that the City told them there was a “communications issue” and that the City is reviewing exempting military and commemorative sites from the tariff protest actions.
Removal of Flags Stands at Sporting and Cultural Facilities
Senior City staff are exempting memorials from the new policy, with American flags returning to display.
The American flag contained within the large mural on the second floor of Hamilton City Hall will remain untouched.
Council Members Reaction
Ward 2 Clr Cameron Kroetsch said Council gave staff delegated authorities including flag protocol. “I support them. We supported giving them the authority.” He does not support removing the flag from the Dieppe Memorial.
Ward 4 Clr Tammy Hwang said she is “actually not sure” how she feels about staff taking this action. She said she wishes to think further on the issue. She said the flag at the Dieppe Memorial should remain.
Ward 5 Clr Matt Francis is frustrated by the situation. Dieppe Memorial Park is in Ward 5. “I wish it would have followed the right process and went to Council. Let Council make that decision, get public feedback, and then make the decision,” he said. “The process should have never happened that way.” Regarding the Dieppe Memorial, “It really upset the veterans. If you upset veterans, you upset me.”
Ward 6 Clr Tom Jackson said Council should’ve made the decision and that Council should’ve been notified when staff made the decision. “How much more authority are we giving the bureaucracy that the community isn’t aware of?” He says it is “surprising in itself” that staff have the authority to remove flags.
Jackson does not support removing American flags. “It’s a federal matter between federal governments.” He said Hamilton City Council is focused on “fighting for jobs” and supporting local businesses and workers—including barring American companies from city contracts. “This thing about removing flags, I’m not on for that at this time.”
Ward 7 Clr Esther Pauls said, “I think they should have brought it to Council so the public could have their say.” The flag at the Dieppe Memorial should remain. She said Canadian and American soldiers died together for freedom. “Whatever the U.S. is doing to Canada … that has nothing to do with [the Memorial].”
Ward 10 Clr Jeff Beattie said, “I think a decision of this gravity should be made by Council as a whole.” The Dieppe Memorial flag should remain because it’s a “symbol of peace, cooperation, and collaboration” and a remembrance of our nations fighting together.
Ward 11 Clr Mark Tadeson said he supports removing American flags, but it should be a Council decision. The flag at the Dieppe Memorial should remain. He added he was disappointed veterans were not informed about the removal.
Ward 12 Clr Craig Cassar said “I believe they have delegated authority to do that, and then they are within their rights to do so.” “I think that’s appropriate, we don’t need to be flying another country’s flag who is attacking us.” He said the flag should remain at the Dieppe Memorial, “I think we need to be aware of sensitive situations where more care is required.”
Ward 14 Clr Mike Spadafora said he ‘absolutely’ disagrees with staff making this decision on their own. “It’s not an operational decision. It’s not programming. It’s not open skate. It’s not any of those things. Senior leadership team should have made zero decision on something like this,” he said. “If they though it was something that needed to be done, they should came to the [Council] horseshoe and asked.” “It’s extremely disappointing.”
Spadafora continues to lead the Hamilton Huskies and said the new policy not only wrong, but also impractical. “Let’s talk about the fact we have friendship exchanges. We have CANUSA .. it’s a friendship between the Canadian and U.S. kids and adult,” he said. “So are we gonna invite then and tell the U.S. athletes your flags not gonna be allowed in our arena?”
Spadafora said the removal of the Dieppe Memorial flag was “absurd.” “I hope it was a mistake. I mean I hope all of it was a mistake.”
Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: March 17, 2025
Last updated: March 17, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version