Anglo Society flag decision sparks outrage

A northern New Brunswick mayor is asking that Bathurst reconsider its decision to fly the Anglo Society's flag on Sept. 18.

Petit-Rocher Mayor Pierre Godin wrote in a letter to Bathurst Mayor Stephen Brunet that he was disturbed by the city's decision to fly the group's flag and asked him to rescind the city's permission.

"With all the respect that I have for the English-language culture, I do not believe that the Anglo Society represents the majority of anglophones in the region," Godin's letter said in French.

"I do not understand why the City of Bathurst is associating itself with this group, especially as it identifies itself as the main city in the north east."

Bathurst city councillors voted 4-2 earlier this week to fly the anglophone group's flag after the organization wrote a letter asking to raise the banner on Sept. 18 to "honour English-speaking citizens."

The decision will allow the group's flag to fly next to the Canadian flag, Acadian flag and Union Jack to mark "Anglo Day."

Deluged by emails

Bathurst's only francophone councillor has been deluged with complaints about the city's decision to fly the Anglo Society's flag.

Coun. Anne-Marie Gammon said she's received roughly 80 emails so far protesting the city's decision.

Gammon was one of two councillors to vote against the flag motion.

Bathurst's Brunet said earlier this week that the Anglo Society should be afforded the same rights as other cultural groups.

The Anglo Society is known for its anti-bilingualism views.

The Petit-Rocher mayor raised in his letter that the Anglo Society was involved with disturbing a Fredericton celebration during the Acadian national holiday several years ago.