Alberta’s NDP is flaunting rules regarding Crown buildings by flying a pride flag from the Federal Building — but the government is passing the puck about which department is responsible for removing it..The pride flag is hung from the NDP’s offices on the fifth floor of the Federal Building, and drapes past the fourth and third floors, covering windows on both those floors. It’s been hung every year since 2020..The Legislative Assembly Office (LAO) monitors floors 2-6 in the Federal Building, but it says the flag responsibility falls to Infrastructure Minister Prasad Panda. .It's not their role to discuss restrictions that are or are not being enforced on buildings that are managed by other government agencies, the LAO said..“The LAO did not create the prohibition, and we do not manage the building it applies to,” a spokesperson said in an email. .According to a Government of Alberta regulation, Crown property — referring to any path, passageway, driveway or road through land belonging to or occupied by the Crown — includes prohibitions of signs, devices, and structures with removal by the Infrastructure minister. .Panda has the authority and jurisdiction over the Federal Building — but he can only remove the flag if the LAO requests its removal, said spokesperson Hadyn Place..“Alberta Infrastructure is monitoring the situation,” he said in a statement. .The flag is an updated version of the LGBTQIA+ pride flag known as the “Progress Flag. It includes new colours and symbols beyond the red to purple rainbow shown in the old flag..The black and brown vertical stripes represent people of colour, as well as those living with HIV/AIDS or those who have died from it..The pink, baby blue, and white lines represent transgender people..The new colours are in triangle shape, with the old rainbow stacked next to them. The placement of the new colours in an arrow is meant to convey that progress is still needed..NDP Infrastructure critic Rod Loyola said the caucus is excited to join pride celebrations across the province, and “help champion the right of every Albertan to live their authentic selves in safety and respect.” .“Our Albertans have shared their disappointment at the UCP’s token raising and immediate lowering of the flag, and we are very happy to display the Progress Flag from our office throughout the summer months,” he said in a statement to the Western Standard. .An NDP spokesperson confirmed the party did not ask permission to fly the flag and said no one from LAO has asked them to remove it.
