For the first time in more than 15 years, the annual March for Life will not be awarded a City of Ottawa proclamation, organizers were told Monday.
The Parliament Hill rally, which can attract more than 20,000, is scheduled for May 10 in support of the rights of the vulnerable, particularly the unborn.
An email from the city’s protocol office to Ambrose Atkins and Margaret Mountain, co-chairs of the march, cited the city’s new policy on proclamations and flag-raising, which was reviewed in 2017 after an eruption of anger over the unexpected raising of the pro-life flag at city hall.
“I would draw your attention to the City’s Proclamation Procedure that states: ‘A proclamation will not be issued for matters that are politically or religiously motivated or represent individual conviction.’
It has not been lost on march organizers, however, that the city happily flew a Sikh flag in April to celebrate Sikh heritage month, obviously a religious-based set of events.