It’s Canada Day, so you might think the Canadian flag always flies from the Peace Tower on this day. But you’d be wrong. It’s routinely taken down, replaced by those of British royals or their representatives who attend events on Parliament Hill on our highest patriotic day. That’s because of a offensive federal rule that says their personal flags are more important than Canada’s. And it doesn’t only apply to the Peace Tower on July 1st. It’s anywhere they happen to go, on any day, and it’s a rule we need to change.

Only by fluke is our flag flying without interruption on Parliament Hill *this* July 1st, and for only the second time in memory. There is no event  this year, because of Covid-19, so there are no royal or viceregal guests. Second, the governor general’s throne is vacant, allowing the Maple Leaf to fly, even if at half-staff this year.

But this is an anomaly. It shouldn’t take a pandemic or the resignation of a disgraced royal official to ensure our flag is never surrendered. Let’s rewrite our flag rules so the Maple Leaf always takes precedence, not just in Ottawa on the First of July, but everywhere and always.

Signing this petition is a fitting way to honour our country for its birthday. Thank you, and for sharing it widely.