Today, the Canadian government ordered all federal facilities in the country to fly a flag for Commonwealth Day -- not the blue Commonwealth flag that sprang from a Canadian design. No, the British flag! It's another flag rule that needs updating, and is part of this petition.

The habit of using another country's flag to celebrate the Commonwealth is based on a 1964 provision that said the British flag would symbolize Canada's membership in the world body. It was seen as a temporary concession until the Commonwealth adopted its own flag. It did so in 1976, using a design created in Canada.

That was nearly a half century ago, yet Canada has not updated its flag rule, and continues to use the British flag. Even in 1964, parliamentarians voiced concern over this idea. MP Reid Scott thought it was a "misuse of the Union Jack," a "downgrade" of that nation's flag for a "peculiarly Canadian purpose.” Indeed.

The British flag does not represent a global organization of 54 countries (most of which are republics), a group which has not had "British" in its name for more than 70 years. Even the Commonwealth Secretariat in London is baffled at Canada's habit. Let's fix this rule, and use the Commonwealth flag for Commonwealth Day.

The City of Toronto has seen the light. It no longer follows Ottawa's policy, which officially applies only to federal properties, but which many cities choose to observe. Toronto now flies the Commonwealth flag, not the British one. Ottawa should heed this example.

Sign this petition, if you haven't already, and share it in your social media circles. Copy and paste this link: https://www.change.org/CdnFlagFirst