In a recent development, the mayor of Emo, Ontario, Harold McQuaker, has had his personal bank account garnisheed following his refusal to pay a $5,000 fine imposed by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. The fine stemmed from a 2020 incident where McQuaker and the Emo township council denied a request from Borderland Pride to proclaim June as Pride Month and fly the LGBTQ2 flag.

The tribunal ruled that the denial, along with a remark McQuaker made during a council meeting, constituted discrimination against the LGBTQ community under the Ontario Human Rights Code. McQuaker had questioned the absence of a flag representing "straight people." The tribunal ordered the township to pay $10,000 and mandated McQuaker to attend a human rights course in addition to his personal fine.

Publicly denouncing the fine as "extortion," McQuaker refused to comply with the tribunal's order. Borderland Pride subsequently pursued legal action to garnish his bank account. In an email to the Toronto Sun, the group stated they took this action due to McQuaker's clear disrespect for and intention to disregard the tribunal's ruling. Borderland Pride has since posted messages on social media mocking the mayor and his supporters.

The original request from Borderland Pride included a draft proclamation emphasizing the importance of Pride for LGBTQ2 individuals and the positive contribution of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities to society. They also requested the township fly the LGBTQ2 rainbow flag for a week. The request was rejected in a 3-2 vote at a subsequent council meeting.

The tribunal vice-chair deemed McQuaker's comments about the flag "demeaning and disparaging" and a violation of the human rights code. McQuaker has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.