Man asks city to fly fascist flag on Mussolini's birthday. Sault councillor responds: 'I see the significance'

Ward 2 Councillor Sandra Hollingsworth says she was just being polite when she responded this past summer to a southern Ontario man who wanted Sault Ste. Marie to fly the flag of Italy's National Fascist Party on the 135th anniversary of the birth of Benito Mussolini.

"Thank you for reaching out to us. I see the significance," Hollingsworth told the man. "As a result I have copied the city clerk for his guidance."

Hollingsworth's surprising willingness to consider a request to celebrate a notoriously bellicose and xenophobic fascist dictator is revealed in an exchange of Civic Centre emails obtained this week by SooToday.

After serving one term as Ward 2 councillor, Hollingsworth is running in Ward 1 in next month's municipal election.

Reached by us Thursday, she said she was simply trying to be polite to the man.

But Hollingsworth admitted she responded without fully reading his e-mailed request. 

"I did not do anything wrong," she said.

The man sent an email to Mayor Provenzano and all members of City Council at 3:17 a.m. on June 30, asking for a special tribute to Mussolini and a deceased Saultite identified as an exemplary fascist.

"I am requesting as a tribute to bring forward a motion to council regarding the birth date of Benito Mussolini for July 29, 2018," the sender wrote.

"As Sault Ste. Marie is comprised of many Italians whom [sic] had served in the Italian military and for the National Fascist Party I am requesting as a tribute to all the Italians and those families whom had served as supporters to fascism in Italy and now in Canada."

The man asked that the city raise the flag of Mussolini's National Fascist Party, which disbanded in 1943 after ruling Italy for 21 years.

"With those whom had settled in Sault Ste. Marie for their continued protection from the British and American forces the city has the right and responsibility to aid and honour the dead and fallen fascists whom were forced to leave Italy and resettle in Sault Ste. Marie," read the email to Mayor Provenzano and City Council.

"With the need to ensure that families whom are remembered for their contribution to the war and to the protection of Italy the families whom are settled in Sault should be given special consideration and allowed to be honoured for their continued legacy for standing up against the British, American and Canadian forces."

It's also important, the email asserted, to remember "those who have died at the mercy of the Americans, Canadians and British whom served under the great leader of the Italian and German governments Adolph Hitler and Benito Mussolini."

Councillor Hollingsworth's response was sent by email three days later.

She didn't copy her reply to all the councillors who received the original request, sending it to just four others: Mayor Provenzano, City Clerk Malcolm White, her ward-mate Councillor Susan Myers and Ward 3 Councillor Matthew Shoemaker.

Shoemaker took just 16 minutes to draft a blistering response to the sender, to Hollingsworth and all other members of City Council.

"I don't want the fact that I'm copied on this email to leave the impression that I in any way support this request," Shoemaker said.

"Benito Mussolini and his fascist government were enemies of the Italian people and of freedom everywhere in the world. He and his government led to the needless death of millions of people, Italians, Canadians and others. His name should forever be associated with shame. He deserves no recognition nor does anyone associated with him."

Seventeen minutes after that, the man replied to Shoemaker: "Matt, I appreciate your opinion however as the population of Sault Ste. Marie is mostly ex-fascists it would be most appropriate to celebrate. I am sure council will support such a day and event for its citizens. As most Canadians are right-wing fascists and fascist idealists I know it would be appropriate to celebrate such a meaningful occasion."

The issue was ultimately decided three hours later when Mayor Provenzano sent a frosty email to the man and all city councillors: "Proclamations are at the mayor's discretion. As the mayor, I can confirm unequivocally that I will not be making the proclamation that you've requested."

Councillor Hollingsworth tells SooToday that as a "junior" councillor, she often refers issues to the city clerk.

"That's what I do when I'm not sure. He knows what to do," she said.

"I was just being polite, which I do with all constituents."

Hollingsworth said she responded to the initial letter because she believes everyone deserves a reply.

She conceded to SooToday that she hadn't read the email in its entirety when she responded to it.

Asked whether she expected White to take the request to the city's agenda review committee for possible presentation to City Council, she told us: "Absolutely not."

"I did not do anything wrong," Hollingsworth said. "I was just being polite."

Reached yesterday by SooToday, Councillor Shoemaker said: "It should be obvious to anyone who read it that it didn't warrant a response, and I had no intention of sending a response."

"However, when I was cc'ed on a reply to [the email], I wanted to make clear that I vehemently disagreed with his views and that I believed him to be supporting someone who caused the needless deaths of millions. We live in the era of Donald Trump, where some politicians struggle to condemn fascists, and I have no interest in being one of them. These views are hateful to all, and hurtful to anyone who suffered under them, including my own Italian ancestors," Shoemaker said.