Williams Backs Down On Flag Ban

He said opposition to the flag ban is a carefully orchestrated attempt to embarrass his province. He said letters and e-mails opposing the ban, and sent to the media, are tactics of the federal government's "communication machine." www.theglobeandmail.ca/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041230.wflag1230/BNStory/National/ The cities of Newfoundland are apparently taking the bait, though not all of the citizens are happy with the flag being used as a political weapon: Newfoundland cities back Williams in flag dispute Canadian Press St. John's — The red-and-white Canadian Maple Leaf has disappeared from more government buildings in Newfoundland, as a symbolic snub of Ottawa for failing to deliver a new offshore deal continues to spread. Officials in St. John's, Mount Pearl and Corner Brook say they have removed Canadian flags from their buildings to show their solidarity with the province in what has become a patriotic-sounding war of words over offshore revenues. "Down she came," St. John's Mayor Andy Wells said Wednesday of the Canadian flag in the front of City Hall. "The majority of Newfoundlanders support Premier Williams's position on this issue — it's part of a larger problem we have with our whole relationship with Canada," said Wells. Last week, Premier Danny Williams blasted the federal government for not coming through with an offshore deal and ordered the Maple Leaf removed from provincial buildings in protest. Newfoundland and Nova Scotia have been trying to reach a final deal with the federal government to end the equalization clawback that sends the majority of their offshore revenues into federal coffers. However, public support for the flag stunt has been as up and down as the emblem itself. Prime Minister Paul Martin has called the decision to remove the flag disrespectful, arguing it shouldn't be treated "as a tool for partisan politics." Sam Connors of Pouchcove, just outside St. John's, agreed. The former head of the provincial federation of municipalities says he's offended by the way the flag has become a political weapon. Mr. Connors's son has completed five tours overseas with Canada's Armed Forces, including trips to Bosnia and Afghanistan. "My wife and I spent many a night wondering if he was going to be sent home, draped in a flag," he said. "I'm mighty, mighty proud to be a Canadian, and so's my whole family." Mr. Connors said that while he agrees with Williams's position on the offshore issue, the flag stunt went too far. "For the premier of our province to take down the flag in protest, to me, that's the lowest form of politicking that you could do." . . . "One way of bringing a province together or a community together is to have a common enemy," said Mr. Tomblin, a political science professor at Memorial University. "It's like a family. If they're fighting among themsevles, the best thing you can do is have some kind of a crisis that will bring the family together and rally the troops." In Mount Pearl, Mayor Steve Kent has taken the flag flap a step further. He's not only taken down the Canadian flag, he's put up the so-called Republic of Newfoundland flag — the flag commonly associated with the province before it joined Confederation in 1949 . . . Mayor Priscilla Boutcher wrote to Mr. Williams with her concerns. "I agree with what the premier's doing, but I don't agree with the flag part of it," Ms. Boutcher said. "I've had a lot of calls from some legionnaires here in Corner Brook, they're really upset about it." Mr. Tomlin said Newfoundland is still nursing its wounds over the collapse of the cod fishery and the raw deal the province believes it received when it signed a deal with Hydro Quebec to develop the Churchill Falls hydroelectric project . . . www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041229.wflag1229/BNStory/Front