Ottawa mayoral candidate vows to raise Palestinian flag at city hall if elected

Ottawa mayoral candidate Neil Saravanamuttoo has pledged to raise the Palestinian flag at City Hall if elected in the October 2026 municipal election.

In a video posted to social media on Friday and filmed outside the site of the Ottawa Palestinian Festival, Saravanamuttoo outlined his stance.

“As mayor, I will stand with those in our community who are suffering the grief of loss, the anguish of injustice. That’s why, as mayor, I will raise the Palestinian flag at City Hall, as we do for other states,” he said.

He added that leaders in positions of authority have a responsibility to call out injustice rather than remain silent.

In the same address, Saravanamuttoo stated: “I’ve read the report of the UN’s independent International Commission of Inquiry, and I agree with the Commission’s findings that what’s happening in Gaza is a genocide,” while citing figures of 70,000 civilians killed, including 20,000 children.

Speaking later to CTV News, the candidate reiterated his position.

“I have been prepared to stand up and say that Gaza is a genocide. I agree with the findings of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on this point,” he said.

He noted that the City of Ottawa already raises flags of other recognized countries on their national days and argued the Palestinian flag should be treated no differently.

“It’s something we do with any country that we recognize. Canada has recognized the state of Palestine. We should be raising the flag of Palestine the way that we do of any other country,” Saravanamuttoo explained.

Canada formally recognized the State of Palestine on September 21, 2025.

Saravanamuttoo, an economist, podcaster and community organizer, previously served as an economic adviser during Catherine McKenney’s 2022 mayoral campaign and co-founded the municipal governance nonprofit CitySHAPES.

He registered his candidacy earlier this year for the race that also includes incumbent Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and several other contenders.

Other candidates responded cautiously.

Mayoral hopeful Alex Lawson said only the flags of Ottawa, Ontario and Canada should fly at City Hall. Sutcliffe’s campaign pointed to the city’s long-standing flag policy and directed questions to the Office of Protocol, while emphasizing the mayor’s focus on local priorities such as roads, transit and public safety. Several other candidates did not comment.

In November 2025, the city illuminated City Hall buildings in the colours of the Palestinian flag and issued a proclamation but rejected a request to raise the flag itself.

The municipal election is scheduled for October 2026.