Ottawa flies American flag at city hall on July 4, citing protocol

The City of Ottawa is still flying the Stars and Stripes on Independence Day this Friday, regardless of trade tensions between the United States and Canada.

In an emailed statement to CBC on Thursday, the city said the flag will fly over Marion Dewar Plaza in front of city hall. It said it's simply following normal protocol, which states that Ottawa will fly the flag of any nation with which Canada maintains formal diplomatic relations on its national day.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe also cited the protocol to defend the decision. 

"July 4 is an opportunity to highlight the shared history and deep, lasting friendship between the people of our two countries," Sutcliffe added. "Now, more than ever, we should focus on building relationships and working together."

Several city councillors also said they had no objection. Orléans East-Cumberland Coun. Matt Luloff said refusing to fly the flag would be an empty gesture and Canadians have a chance to be the "adults in the room."

"Obviously, this is a very difficult time in our relationship, but I think at the end of it, you cannot let eight years of intermittent turmoil in our relationship sully more than 150 years of friendship and and partnership," said Luloff, a retired member of the Canadian Armed Forces.

"I think that what we need to do is separate what's going on with the American administration in Canada right now from the close and enduring friendships that Canadians, individual Canadians, have with individual Americans."

"We have a great relationship with Canada," said U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra to CBC News on Friday.

"Sure, there's always what I call 'pebbles in the shoe.' It's not always perfect. Constructive friends are not afraid to challenge each other. That's where we are."

Flag rules

The city raises flags of more than 190 countries. According to the protocol, the tradition recognizes Ottawa's ethnic diversity and its role as the national capital.

Ottawa's flag-raising protocol was recently ensnared in controversy as pro-Palestinian groups protested the decision to fly the Israeli flag on its Independence Day amid the war in Gaza.

U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum and cars, with a carve-out for components built in the U.S., and has repeatedly mused that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.

Several Canadian communities including Mississauga, Barrie and Midland, Ont., have chosen to remove American flags from arenas and other city properties.