Toronto’s mayor will not be attending a flag raising Monday morning at Toronto City Hall for the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.

John Tory, along with various local groups and citizens, will boycott the flag-raising over ongoing Canada-China tensions.

(Anti-Chinese protesters at Queens Park on Saturday)

Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are being detained by the Chinese on suspicion of spying. Their arrests are viewed as retaliation for Canada’s part in the arrest last year in Vancouver of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

Don Peat, Executive Director Of Communications and Strategic Issues Management in the mayor’s office, sent the following statement to the Toronto Sun regarding the PRC flag-raising.

“Mayor Tory will not be attending the flag raising. The Mayor is hopeful that in the very near future a resolution will be found to a number of issues between Canada and China which are of great concern to him and to all of the people of Toronto who strongly believe in addressing issues at home and abroad respectfully and with due process.”

A spokesperson for the mayor clarifies that it’s not the city raising the flag. It is a courtesy flag pole where countries officially recognized by Global Affairs Canada are allowed to raise national flags.

A protest against the flag-raising is scheduled for 9:30am in the southeast corner of Nathan Phillips Square.

Listen for more on the controversy on Zoomer Radio’s Fight Back with guest host Jane Brown Monday at 12:30.