‘I was appalled’: Her landlord ordered her Palestinian flag removed

Town raised the flag a few weeks ago, “like people putting up privacy screens. It was the size of my balcony,” they said.

This text is a translation Article From CTV News.

“Two hours later I got a text from my landlord. I’m not asking for it to be removed – I’m demanding.”

Towne, who has lived in the Rosemont triplex since December, said she denied the owner’s request because she believed the owner had no right to demand removal.

The owner also lives in the building and currently has a small ‘Every Child Counts’ sign hanging in his window and previously had a Portuguese flag hanging from his balcony.

The owner, who identifies as Jewish, said the flag made him uncomfortable.

According to Towne, the owner said the flag was in violation Cultural Heritage Act Because the property has been declared a heritage building.

“One of the clauses of my lease is that I have to respect all the requirements of the heritage building,” explained the tenant.

“One of those requirements is that you need a permit to put a sign on a building.”

With a background in policy analysis, Towne consulted Traditional Law And a flag is not considered a permanent installation and therefore does not require a permit.

According to Heritage Montreal, each heritage building has its own provisions, but unless the flag is hate speech, it is considered a piece of furniture, not a permanent installation.

Heritage Montreal said this particular situation appears to be more of a landlord-tenant conflict than a heritage issue.

“I explained this to her and then she threatened to use the law to deport me. I was appalled that she tried to use the law to silence me on this issue,” Towne said.

The flag is protected by free speech, lawyers say

The town contacted an attorney who looked at their lease and found they had a legal right to hang the flag. The lawyer then sent a letter to the owner.

The tenant shared a draft of the letter and the lease with CTV Montreal.

In the letter, attorney Daniel R. Quay held that the flag was not inconsistent with customary law and, in fact, arose from a right protected by the Charters relating to “freedom of expression,” a valid high authority supporting such an interpretation.

Manuel Johnson, a home ownership attorney at Ouellet Nadon et Associés, says a landlord has the right to add building regulations to the lease, but they must be in place at the time of signing.

“If you’re talking about putting up a flag to support the cause of national liberation of an oppressed people, that, in my opinion, can be protected by freedom of speech and expression,” Johnson said.

The owner declined to be interviewed by CTV News.

However, he said that since his building is a rental property, he does not allow tenants to display political views or personal beliefs.

He also said that he had rejected such requests earlier too.

Town said he had not spoken to him in recent days. The flag still hangs from his balcony.

“She might try to take us to the Administrative Housing Tribunal. I don’t know. I don’t know how successful she will be. That’s going to be a headache for me,” Towne said.