PARLIAMENT HILL—Toronto Conservative MP John Carmichael tabled a private member’s bill on Tuesday to enshrine the right of Canadians to fly the Canadian flag.
“Canadians love and cherish their flag,” Carmichael told reporters on Parliament Hill on Wednesday.
He said he wants to encourage Canadians to wave the flag year-round, not just on Canada Day.
“Canadians have always assumed this right; however, we believe it is important to legally protect that right.”
The bill would prevent condo corporations from banning residents from flying the Canadian flag. It could also force private companies to fly a flag if an employee sticks one in the window.
Those who interfere with that right could face up to two years in prison under C-288.
Liberal interim leader Bob Rae said the bill is an effort to direct the news cycle.
“I just think these guys are obsessed with symbols. It’s always a sign of what I call ‘changing the channel.’ Canadians are worried about the economy—the United States economy is flatter than a pancake right now, the Eurozone is in real trouble, and these guys are talking about flags.”
When asked why the government was focusing on a tangential issue when issues like rampant suicide in Inuit communities and the global economy seem much more pressing, Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore said the bill was not a distraction.
“The Canadian economy remains our number one priority. We’ve always said that. … It’s why we were entrusted with a majority government. It has been our focus in this Parliament.”
Moore said other issues could still be raised and C-288 was a private member’s bill that only required an hour of debate.
“This is not in any way taking away from our principal focus, which is the Canadian economy and the big issues.”
