City council has rejected a bid by Ald. Ric McIver to put Support Our Troops stickers on all city vehicles. McIver wanted to have the stickers on all city vehicles in a show of support for Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan.
Instead council decided to sell the yellow ribbon decals at city facilities such as fire halls recreation centres and city hall in order to raise money for military families. The money will go to the Calgary Military Family Resource Centre.
The issue has been contentious for other Canadian city councils. Toronto’s city council voted to put Support Our Troops stickers on ambulances and fire department vehicles in 2006. However in June Mayor David Miller told the media the city would be removing the stickers as of September out of concern that they are perceived as an endorsement of the military mission in Afghanistan. Some fire trucks in Ottawa have Support Our Troops stickers on them but the issue was never officially voted on by council. The stickers were put in place by city employees.
