A Chatham-Kent councilor not only saw her motion to ban special interest flags from flying at municipal buildings, voted down at Monday’s council meeting, she has also endured harassment in the process.
While making her case for a motion that would only allow the Canadian, Ontario and Municipality of Chatham-Kent flags to be flown, Rhonda Jubenville revealed she has received hateful messages.
“I’ve been called words that I had to look up,” she said.
She added the messages included two death wishes against her “and a witches’ spell cast on me all because I feel our three governmental flags are what is needed outside municipal centres.”
Although she received a lot of support along with respectful and thought-provoking messages opposing her motion, Jubenville said, “Why would I now, as a councilor, feel compelled to support some of these groups that wish me death and hate over a flag?
“This should concern all of council,” she added.
Mayor Darrin Canniff and other councilors denounced the hateful messages Jubenville had to endure during this process.
“That was very kind and humble and I appreciate the fact they made comments,” Jubenville said after the meeting.
The North Kent councilor came under fire after indicating earlier this month she intended to bring a motion to ban non-government flags from being flown at municipal building after learning a request from a Right to Life Kent went unanswered by the mayor’s office at city hall.
Jubenville wanted to state for the public record she is not racist or anti-LGBTQ+.
“I know and love many people in all of these communities.”
Chatham County. Michael Bondy made a friendly amendment that any exception to Jubenville’s proposed flag policy would be the sole decision of council.
Bondy said the purpose of his amendment was to not have council kick the issue back to administration to come up with a policy.
“I just believe this should be a council decision if there is going to be any exceptions,” he said.
“Then we all wear it.”
Jubenville agreed the decision on flags should be made by council.
“If that can’t happen, a flag policy will not help us remedy this situation,” she said.
Jubenville pointed to a situation in Norwich Township where Pride Flags were desecrated last June.
“Is this what we want to see happen here? I do not.”
She said her motion was intended to bring “all of us together, not create division.”
A showdown over the issue looms during a vote slated for Tuesday in Norwich Township, where a politician is pushing for a ban on all but government flags on civic property while another is asking council to support a motion to declare June as Pride month in Oxford community .
Marianne Willson, representing the Chatham-Kent Gay Pride Association, which opposed Jubenville’s motion, noted the Pride flag was first flown in Chatham-Kent in 2000 followed by the Transgender Pride flag in 2018.
“Pride flags are signal of support, safety and hope the 2SLGBTQIA+ community worldwide,” Willson said during a deputation to council.
“When the municipality raises these flags it shows collective concern for the dignity of the marginalized,” she added.
Willson said the gay pride association encourages the municipality to develop a flag raising policy that includes an evaluation based on diversity, equity, inclusion and justice.
Jane Wright, a Right to Life Kent board member, said in her deputation to council: “I support the right of every group of good intent to fly their flag.”
She said the failure of Jubenville’s motion may not result in an improvement if time is spent reviewing flag raising applications.
“A decision could still be arbitrary if someone has an ax to grind against a group,” she added.
Wright said with Jubenville’s motion “there is no expense, no dissention and no discrimination.”
Chatham County. Brock McGregor said it is important for the municipality to allow for what is often a “very important, symbolic step for groups that are traditionally not included in communities.”
He believes municipal leaders have a responsibility to create and promote an inclusive community. But he added inclusivity does not mean accepting things like misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, anti-Black racism or anti-Indigenous racism.
“Neutrality is not something that you can espouse as a stance you can take in important issues where people have their safety at risk,” McGregor said.
Chatham County. Marjorie Crew brought a motion calling on administration to develop a policy and protocol for flag raisings that includes consultation as well as reviewing what other communities have in place.
The motion, which was passed by council, also calls for a draft policy to be returned to council in September to be voted on.
“It’s not fair to put all the decisions when they’re controversial on . . . one group of people within our organization, without the guidelines and clear, consistent practices for all of us to follow in Chatham-Kent,” Crew said.
She added council still gets to vote on the policy.
“If we don’t like it, change things, add things, whatever,” Crew said.
Noting she has no disrespect to administration, but Jubenville is concerned the creation of the policy “might get lost in translation.”
She added, “I want it to be in council’s hands, because I feel that we were elected to make all decisions.”
With files from Trevor Terfloth, Chatham Daily News
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