Winnipeg biz owners encouraged to fly the Maple Leaf

A Winnipeg city councillor says business owners should fly the Maple Leaf to bolster Canadian pride as the country fends off a trade assault from the U.S.

“It’s all about being patriotic and showing that we are all on the same page and are unified in our efforts as we negotiate trade with the United States,” said Markus Chambers.

The St. Norbert – Seine River representative launched “Operation Naked Flag Pole” Wednesday.

“I’m seeing flag poles in our downtown area, but they’re not covered with Canadian flags,” he said. “They’re sitting empty. They’re naked. So let’s get them dressed with the Canadian flag.”

He said even as a politician, it’s hard not to feel helpless after trade negotiations abruptly ended Friday.

“I thought if there’s a way of showing solidarity, it’s through the Canadian flag,” he said. “So I’m hoping that businesses take me up on this initiative and start to hoist the flag.”

Chambers said alongside the political turmoil, 2026 is the perfect time to raise a flag, as the year also marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion which supports veterans.

Trade negotiations between the U.S. and Canada fell apart late Friday after Prime Minister Mark Carney stepped back from negotiations, spurring a slew of new American tariffs on things like honey, dairy, alcohol, and a long list of consumer products. Prime Minister Carney said Canada will introduce retaliatory, dollar-for-dollar tariffs starting Sept. 8.

Premier Wab Kinew has said Manitoba stands behind the federal government.

“History will not be kind to Donald Trump, so we should never appease him,” Kinew told reporters Saturday. “We should fight back, which is what Canada is doing today.”

Loren Remillard, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, said many businesses already fly a Canadian or Manitoba flag to show their pride, and did so long before trade negotiations went sideways.

“We support any call that effectively encourages people to take pride in their community, who they are; their identity as Canadians,” Remillard said. “We don’t want people expressing pride in Canada as a negative reaction to what we find ourselves currently embroiled in with the United States. We should be proud to be Canadian 365 days a year.”

He noted there are some business owners who chose to be politically neutral and some who don’t have the ability to fly the flag, but said if Winnipeg businesses or residents want to fly the Maple Leaf, they’ll encourage it.

“We should all be proud to be Canadian for all the right reasons — what it means to be Canadian — not as in: ‘We’re not this. We’re not the U.S. We’re not other countries. That’s not what being Canadian is about,” Remillard said.

morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca