A city councillor is calling for a review of taxpayers' contributions after a decision by organizers of the Capital Pride parade to ask police officers not to march in uniform.
Allan Hubley says city participation in the parade, which is extensive, should be reviewed as well.
Hubley told CFRA's "The Morning Rush" that he doesn't buy the organizers' excuse that uniformed officers make some young gay people uncomfortable.
"If that happened with another parade, like the St. Patrick's or Christmas parade, the whoel community would be up in arms over that," he said.
"You just can't do this kind of stuff -- if we allow it, then what's next, because it's a slippery slope."
Hubley's proposal is being met with a difference of opinion between two members of council in key roles.
The first is Police Services Board Chair Eli El-Chantiry. The councillor says he agrees with Hubley's call for a review.
"The uniform is the police and the police are the uniform," he told CFRA's Ottawa Now.
On the other side is Mayor Jim Watson, who says he does not support the notion of pulling city funding.
He says while he disagrees with Capital Pride's decision, he respects it is the organizers' to make.
Late Wednesday, Police Chief Charles Bordeleau tweeted in response to an Ottawa Citizen op-ed, by an Ontario police officer who sits on the Ottawa Police Service's LGBT liason committee, that he intend to march in the parade in uniform.
Alex, my plan is to march in the parade, in uniform, with my members. I'd be honoured if you would join us. https://t.co/W4OpKO3ahv
— Charles Bordeleau (@ChiefBordeleau) July 5, 2017