Victoria Day flag rule makes Canada look like a British colony

Victoria Day marks both a historical birthday and the official birthday of the current sovereign of Canada. And while Elizabeth II has always lived in Britain, the office of "queen of Canada" is separate from the British crown. So it's perplexing that the Department of Canadian Heritage orders all federal buildings to fly the British flag to mark the birth of Canada's sovereign, today. Provincial and municipal agencies that take their cues from Ottawa follow along.

This flag rule confuses two distinct and legally separate crowns, and has us flying the flag of a foreign realm on OUR holiday. If any flag should be flown on Victoria Day, it's Canada's. Moreover, today is National Patriots' Day in Quebec, honouring those who fought and died in the Rebellion of 1837 to give our country democratic government, in direct opposition to the British crown. To fly a British flag on the day is an affront.

The current rule needs to change to reflect the reasons for the holiday, and is part of this petition. Sign and *share* it with others to have our colonial flag rules catch up to the 21st century.