Confederate flag has been flying in Dundas, Ont., for 18 years

A massacre at a African-American church in Charleston, S.C.,that killed nine in June sparked intensedebate about the symbolism of the Confederate flag. It's sincebeen removed from the South Carolina State House andU.S. President Barack Obama declared it a symbol of racial oppression in a eulogy for the slain pastor of the Charleston church.

Manymiles away, north of the border, the flag has been flying high in the backyard of a Dundas, Ont., home for18 years and that debate may have at last arrived at the owner's doorstep.

"It's not a ni---- flag," said the homeowner, who declinedto give his name but was identified as Eldon Spinneyby neighbours. "I don't care what happened in South Carolina, that's a long way from here."

"My great grandfather died for that flag That flag will never come down," Spinneytold CBC News.

Spinney and some of his neighbours say it's a "free country" and note the flag is not on a business or public property, but rather his private backyard.

Not just controversial in the U.S., the flag has made headlines in Canadatoo. A Saskatchewan man has filed a Human Rights Commission complaint, which arguesthe treatment of the Confederate flag isunfair.

A newvideorecently postedonline draws attention to Spinney'sflag. As the creators drive into Dundas a suburb of Hamiltonand past the house, theyfeatureaudio clips of speeches and news reports about the Confederate flag debate. In one of the audio clips, theysay they are "putting a spotlight on white supremacy." The creators of the video have not been reached for comment.

Spinneymaintained it is a "battle flag," and that it is "not a racist flag."

"My mail girl is a black girl and she's never said anything to me," added Spinney.

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Spinneyis as self-described "redneck," who was born and raised in Hamilton. He said his great grandfather is from Georgia, and said the flag has flown over his home for 18 years andisreplaced yearly.

"You guys all pick on the rebel flag," Spinneysaid. "It's on my arm, too. So will I rip my arm off?"

'The Confederate flag stands for slavery'

Spinneypointed out he is a member of the Bacchus Motorcycle Club, a biker group who changed their names from the Red Devils in 2014. A new Red Devils gang, with ties to the Hells Angels, was believed to be moving into Hamilton in 2014, spurring Canada's oldest biker club change their name and join the Maritimes-based Bacchus club. He has security cameras monitoring who comes to the door.

He said in the nearly two decades he has flown the flag, no neighbour has complained to him.

Controversy about the flag in Hamilton is not new a now-shutteredbarbecue restaurant called Hillbilly Heaven in the city's International Village displayedand later removed the flag in 2013.

Gerald Horne, a professor of history at the University of Houston, said at that timethat historicallyCanada has been ardently anti-slavery and nearly became the target of U.S. attacks for it.

"Theconfederate flag stands for slavery," Horne said at the time. "It stands for backwardness. It stands for reactionary politics. It stands for going backwards."

Flag is sending a 'political message'

On Wednesday, when asked about the flag flying at a private home,Horne said there is no way to say the flag is not a symbol of racism and that it is about sending a political message. He drew a parallel toNazi symbols.

"I don't think that a swastika should be flying on private property in Canada, not least because so many Canadians died fighting Nazi Germany, and likewise, so many Canadians died fighting the continuation of slavery."

Hornealso noted a significant percentage of the black population of Canada is descendant from Africans who fled slavery and soughtrefuge north of the border in Canada. "And it's both a threat and an insult to them."

Neighbour: 'It says something to other people what he thinks'

Neighbours were either in support of Spinneyor cautious about wading into thedebate.

"It says something to other people what he thinks," said neighbour and artist, Danuta Nition.

Across the street from Spinney's well-manicured home,Jacqueline Ward defended her neighbour.

"Lots of people died defending that flag," Ward said, adding he's "one of the best" neighbours on the street.

Another neighbour, who only gave his first name Mike and said he was a friend of Spinney's for "40 years," said he had no issue with the flag in his neighbourhood.

"To me, it's just a flag," he said.

Asked what he thought of the flag being removed from the South Carolina state building, Spinneyremained defiant.

"I thought they were a bunch of goddamn cowards and they gave in."

"Come on, it's a flag," Spinneycontinued. "When's it going to be the white man's turn?"