It's Independence Day, so Ottawa says "Fly the British flag!"

Break out your Union Jacks to celebrate Canadian independence, today! Yes, that is how Ottawa says the Dec. 11 anniversary of the recognition of Canada's sovereignty is best marked: Fly another country's flag! This is surely one of the queerest expressions of independence, anywhere.

On this day in 1931, the world acknowledged what was already a fact: we were a separate country, not a British colony. That was 88 years ago, and we've only become more independent, since. So it's bewildering that, to mark the achievement, each year, Ottawa orders the British flag hoisted at its properties across the country -- "on federal buildings, airports, military bases and other federal buildings and establishments...from sunrise to sunset." (Department of Canadian Heritage)

Just as the sun has set on the British Empire, it's high time it set on this dumbfounded rule. That's why it's part of this petition to update our colonial-era flag habits. Share the link with those in your social networks, and help Ottawa see the glaring logic in not using another country's flag to celebrate our independence. The Canadian flag, alone, can do that job.