Identity theft: Canada says British flag symbolizes 52 countries

Once more, Ottawa has ordered federal properties across the entire country to fly the British flag, today. No, the U.K. prime minister is not on a state visit. And no, there isn't a British royal popping in for a spot of tea. It's Commonwealth Day, and Canada's official nod is, bizarrely, to fly a Union Jack, and not the flag of the group whose day it is. If that's not strange enough, the Commonwealth flag is based on a Canadian design, and we don't officially fly it! The symbol sprang from a 1973 meeting in Ottawa. Three years later, the world body sought a flag free of imperial symbols, and embraced the Ottawa emblem. Ironically, Canada opts to fly the imperial flag to mark this day, instead of taking pride in the flag it inspired. The Commonwealth Secretariat in London is dismayed, and hopes we'll change our rule. The Royal Commonwealth Society says it's looking at doing just that. Indeed, Canada's flag policy is at odds with the 52-country organization, whose initiative to "Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth" encourages display of its unique banner around the world, annually, on the second Monday in March. If you've already signed this petition, an element of which is to update our Commonwealth Day flag rule, thank you! If not, add your name and a message will be sent to the Department of Canadian Heritage. Follow up your endorsement by contacting Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, and your Member of Parliament, individually, to urge a rethink of our flag habits. Then, share this petition with local media and in your social networks. That's powerful. Symbols matter, and using a British flag for a global organization is outdated. We are well into our 150th year as a country, but our flag rules are mired in a colonial era. Let this be the year we see them changed!