Emo, Ontario Mayor Harold McQuaker is refusing to pay a $5,000 fine imposed by the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) for not flying a Pride flag during Pride Month in 2020. The reason, McQuaker says, is straightforward: “I don’t hate anybody. We just don’t have a flagpole at our town hall.”
The OHRC tribunal ruled in November that both McQuaker and the township must compensate the LGBTQ group Borderland Pride, awarding $5,000 from the mayor and $10,000 from the town. The tribunal also ordered McQuaker to complete a Human Rights 101 course and arrange a drag queen story hour at the local library, mandates he has rejected outright.
“I utterly refuse to pay the $5,000 because that’s extortion,” McQuaker told the Toronto Sun. As for the township’s $10,000 fine, McQuaker said the council would decide whether to appeal or pay it during a special meeting.
Borderland Pride celebrated the ruling, calling the council’s refusal to fly the Pride flag a “bigoted and discriminatory decision.” The group had sought an apology, diversity training, and a permanent commitment to Pride proclamations with inclusive language.
McQuaker has gained international attention for his stance, with many questioning the reasonableness of the fine. The mayor’s straightforward explanation about the lack of a flagpole has resonated with supporters who view the ruling as an overreach by activist groups and government agencies.
For McQuaker, the issue is simple. “I don’t hate anybody,” he said. “But I’m not paying $5,000 for a flag we couldn’t even raise.”
