TOWN COUNCILLOR REFUSES TO PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO QUEEN

The Ontario government said on Wednesday it was looking into rules requiring all municipal councillors to pledge allegiance to the Queen after an Indigenous councillor-elect refused to do so. The issue arose in Hearst, Ont., where Gaetan Baillargeon said he was forced to vacate the seat he recently won in a general election because he wouldn’t take the oath. “To me, the Queen represents residential schools, the reserves, and the breaking of all the treaties.” Mayor Roger Sigouin said the ball was in the government’s court.