Residents of a northern Alberta town have voted in favour of a bylaw banning all non-standard flags from municipal property.
The town of Barrhead, located about 120 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, says 1,145 votes were cast in the plebiscite, with 653 in favour of the proposed bylaw and 492 opposed to it.
The bylaw states: "Only the national flags, provincial flag of Alberta, or Town of Barrhead flags are raised on flagpoles on public property or facilities.
"There will be no decorations on Town crosswalks or displaying of flags supporting political, social, or religious movements or commercial entities."
A petition for the bylaw received about 712 validated signatures in July, almost double what it needed to go before council.
The town says in a post on X that council will now go forward with second and third readings for the bylaw.
The town also says it will be going ahead with removing existing crosswalks or flags that violate the bylaw, including a Canadian Red Ensign and local county flag.
Because "social movements" are also covered by the bylaw, it means no Pride flags or rainbow crosswalks will be permitted in the town either.
The Town of Westlock passed a similar bylaw in February after it was argued that governments should not promote some groups over others.
– With files from Canadian Press
