Ottawa orders UK flag flown for Commonwealth Day as group endorses change

Today, Ottawa again ordered the British flag flown nationwide for Commonwealth Day, and not the flag of the global organization. A national advocacy group, Republic Now, endorses our campaign to change this and related flag rules in a news release issued today. Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Secretariat in London has expressed dismay that Canada uses the British flag for this purpose, and hopes we'll change our rule. Indeed, Canada's flag policy is at odds with the 53-country organization, whose initiative to "Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth" encourages flying its unique banner around the world annually on the second Monday in March. The flag's design sprang from an Ottawa meeting in 1973. Three years later, the world body sought a flag free of imperial symbols, and embraced the Ottawa emblem. Ironically, Canada continues to fly an imperial flag to mark this day. Let's change this! How? 1. Write your MP 2. Contact Heritage Minister Melanie Joly 3. Share this petition on social media, with local media and with friends. All of this will help change our antiquated flag rules. After all, "It's 2016."