反对万锦市搞升旗仪式的市民向支持者宣战

2020年2月3日，万锦市总务委员会以6票对5票通过了一项动议。该动议要求“修订万锦市社区升旗政策，即万锦市政府大楼和其所属的设施只悬挂加拿大国旗，不挂其他国家的国旗。除非有贵宾访问万锦市”。

On Feb 3, 2020, Markham General Committee passed a motion (6-5) to require “That City of Markham Community Flag Raising & Flag Protocol Policy be amended to eliminate the flying of any National Flag other than the Canadian Flag at the Markham Civic Centre or any City owned facility except in the event of a visit by a dignitary to the City of Markham”.

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这项动议是由于2019年10月5日万锦市府大楼前出事后而提出的。那天，有示威者前往抗议中国国旗升起仪式。因为那时中国已经囚禁了两名俗称“两位麦克”的加拿大公民近一年，以迫使加拿大释放华为的大公主孟晚舟。该升旗仪式本应被取消。原定那天在列治文山市和旺市的中国国旗升旗仪式都取消了。

This motion came as a result of an incident in front of City Hall on October 5, 2019 when demonstrators showed up to protest the raising of the National Flag of China. With the imprisonment of two Canadian citizen, commonly referred as two Michaels under trumped-up charges for almost a year (at that time) to bargain for the release of Huawei princess Meng Wenzhou. The event should have been cancelled. Indeed, two such events cancelled at the cities of Richmond Hill and Vaughan that day.

万锦市市长薛家平以及市议员杨绮清和约克区议员希思均参加了由万锦市加华联会举办的升旗仪式。即使这些官员声称升旗仪式与万锦市政府无关，但他们显然忘记了“感觉最重要”。对于支持者升中国国旗的人而言，这意味着他们可以向其中国的主子说万锦市宽容并支持中国政府。对于反对者来说，在被囚禁的加拿大公民的基本人权被中国这个专制政权践踏后，搞中国国旗升旗仪式等于是在伤口上撒把盐。

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, along with Ward Councillor Amanda Collucci and Regional Councillor Jack Heath joined the flag raising ceremony organized by the Federation of Canadian Chinese in Markham (FCCM). Even though they declared that the city has nothing to do with the event, they forgot that “perception is everything”. To the proponents, it means that they can show their master that the City of Markham condone and support the regime. To the opponents, Markham was rubbing salt into their wounds after they have suffered at the hands of this totalitarian regime when their human rights were violated.
 
总务委员会的动议按程序交给万锦市议会进行最后表决。市议会表决定在2020年2月11日（星期二）下午1点。需要先辩论，然后表决是否采纳此动议。市议会会议厅仅可容纳200人，支持升旗的人扬言要抢占议会厅里的每个座位，把反对者挤在门外。有传言说，他们将采用过去的手法，用大巴士拉人去现场。但大巴出没有现。市长召集了他所有的朋友，包括自由党的那些亲信，以及前安大略省长的左膀右臂陈国治，市长的亲密朋友，万锦市加华联会的主席吴建忠医生，会计师温建业。

The motion above was sent to City Council for a final vote. It took place on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 1:00pm. The Council Chamber has a room for 200 occupants and the supporters of the Mayor threatened to fill it up in order to keep the opponents out. Rumours had it that they would bring in people on coaches from outside of Markham just like the day of that earlier event. In the end, that did not happen. The Mayor called in all his friends instead – Liberal party personnel including some big guns like former Ontario Minister Michael Chan. The Mayor's close friend Doctor Ken Ng (President FCCM) and also accountant Kenny Wan were there with their entourage in tow.



当天，万锦市议会厅内情绪紧张和激动。会议开始时，有70多人注册发言。由于大陆来的移民用语言表达自己观点的能力差，因此他们注册要求发言的人很少。发言的大多是市长薛家平的商界朋友。许多人认为，陈国治还想重返政治舞台。人们猜测他将在下届市政选举中竞选万锦市市长。

Tensions and emotions were high in the Chamber. At the start, over 70 deputations were registered. Very few mainlanders made deputations as none can articulate their contents to present their views to the audience. Local business friends of the Mayor did most of the talking. It appeared to many that Michael Chan is not quite finished with his political career. Many speculated that he will run for the position of Markham Mayor in the next municipal election.

要求个人发言的人可以有5分钟发表自己对升旗仪式的立场。个人发言用了5个小时，直到下午6点结束。随后，议员们开始发言，表明立场。正如预期的那样，在总务委员会上投支持修改升旗动议的那5位议员仍然保持原先的立场。区议员希思和李国贤因故没有在总务委员会的动议上投票。许多人预计希思将与市长的立场一致。因此，决定动议能否通过的关键一票就落在李国贤的手中。

The deputations of 5 minutes each carried on until after 6:00pm (five hours later). Then the speeches from the councillor commenced. As expected, 5 of the votes for the motion were firmed up as indicated by their speeches. In the previous vote in General Committee, Regional Councillors Jack Heath and Joe Li were absent. As many predicted Mr. Heath to vote with the Mayor, the key deciding vote fell into the hands of Mr. Li.
 
李国贤在当天的表决之前没有表明立场。但他发言时，他的立场显而易见。他要饶恕吴医生在前几次的选举中不支持他所造成的伤害，建议那些遭受专制统治的人也要学会饶恕。此话一出，支持动议的人知道大势已去。

Mr. Li never committed himself to any one side before the Council meeting. When he delivered his speech, his intentions was clear. On the basis of “forgiveness” relating to the conflicts and damages inflicted on his first few elections by Dr. Ng, he suggested that those who suffered from totalitarian regimes to learn to forgive. With that, the tide has turned.



区议员琼斯显然认为动议无法通过，因此改变了先前的立场。他对动议投了反对票。这也许是为了确保下一次大选给自己的选票。最终投票结果为8票反对动议，5票支持动议。这意味着万锦市将根据市民组织的要求继续搞包括外国国旗的升旗仪式。2019年全年，万锦只进行了7次外国国旗升旗仪式。它们是：亚美尼亚，中国，希腊，印度，巴基斯坦和菲律宾。

Seeing that it will be a losing vote, Regional Councillor Jim Jones changed his vote from his previous position. He voted against the motion. Maybe he wants to secure votes for his next campaign. The final result was 8 to 5, meaning Markham will continue to allow National Flag raisings when requested by local organizations. In all of 2019, only 7 national flag raisings were performed. They were Armenia, China, Greece, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines.
 
对反对搞外国国旗升旗仪式的人来说，这次战役是失败了，但战争却开始了。 “失败是成功之母”。他们八年前开始反对万锦建体育馆时就遭到惨败，但却最终反败为胜。反对升旗的种子已经撒下去了，胜利只是时间的问题。

To the opponents, the battle was lost but the War has begun. “Defeat is the mother of Success” - like the Arena fiasco eight years ago, final victory came after the initial defeat by the opponents. The seeds are sowed, the harvest just have to come a bit longer.