Province plans to purchase 1,560 new flags for schools
Symbol of Saskatchewan's culture and history must now fly alongside Canada's
A recently issued tender from the Government of Saskatchewan seeks a supplier to deliver 1,580 Saskatchewan flags, to align with new legislation directing schools on flag etiquette.
The request for bids (RFB) is the first step in implementing a legislative change tucked into Bill 137, or the Parents' Bill of Rights, which mandates parental consent for students to use preferred pronouns in school and was passed in October.
Per the amendment, Saskatchewan schools are now legally required to fly the Saskatchewan flag in addition to the Canadian flag, in accordance with the Education Act.
“This is to encourage the development of attitudes, understandings and skills that support active and responsible citizenship which is foundational to Saskatchewan curricula,” reads the RFB, which names the Government of Saskatchewan as the agreement holder.
“The Saskatchewan flag is also an important symbol of Saskatchewan's history and culture.”
Two new flags will be provided to each school in the province later this spring, according to the tender. A total of 34 recipients are named, including all 27 divisions and the Ministry of Education.
A total of 1,460 flags will be provided to the public school system, including the Conseil des écoles fransaskoises and Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre.
Another 20 flags will go to the ministry, and 100 flags to various independent schools in the province.
No dollar figures are included in the tender details, as cost estimates will be a part of the tender submissions.
Flagpoles are also not mentioned, though were raised as a significant question in the fall when the amendment passed.
Decisions as to whether new flagpoles will be installed to accommodate the rule would be determined once flag etiquette details were ironed out by the provincial protocol office, Minister of Education Jeremy Cockrill said in October.
Board reports from Regina Catholic Schools showed the cost to replace a flagpole in 2023 ranged from $5,300 to $6,700, depending on the site.
Asked Tuesday if more flagpoles will be added, the Ministry of Education said it will pay for second flagpoles on a case-by-case basis.
“As construction projects or new school builds occur, the Government of Saskatchewan will fund the cost of a second flagpole,” said an emailed statement.
“In the interim, school divisions may fly the Saskatchewan flag under the Canadian flag at schools that only have one flagpole.”
The directive follows standard provincial protocol in part, which states the Canadian flag takes order of precedence when two flags are flown on the same pole, though procedure also states it is “not correct” to use a single pole for more than one flag.
The ministry also said “school divisions will be responsible for purchasing any flags beyond the two provincial flags that are provided.”
The tender closes on March 12 and asks the successful bidder to deliver the flags the week of April 1. It advises that the government may also seek to purchase an additional
50 flags before March 31.
The government intends to enter into a one-time contract with
just one supplier, as a result of this process.