Rose pursuant to notice of February 13, 2024:

That he will call the attention of the Senate to the Canadian flag as part of celebrating National Flag of Canada Day.

He said: Honourable senators, it is indeed an honour to launch this inquiry on the Canadian flag on Flag Day, co-sponsored by senators Salma Ataullahjan, Jane Cordy, Lucie Moncion and Rebecca Patterson. I’m delighted that other senators will speak to this subject today and in the days ahead. You will hear a series of short speeches on this topic.

Colleagues, this morning as I walked here to the Senate building, I stopped by the Centennial Flame and marvelled at the flag atop the Peace Tower. I thought of the ceremony that happened on February 15, 1965 — 59 years ago. Then, Lester B. Pearson was Prime Minister, John Diefenbaker was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, Tommy Douglas was the leader of the New Democratic Party, Réal Caouette led the Créditistes and Georges Vanier was the Governor General of Canada.

I will add that the late former senator Landon Pearson, the daughter-in-law of former Prime Minister Pearson, talked about watching the ceremony with a brood of Pearson grandchildren in the Prime Minister’s office, which was then in the East Block. It was a cold February morning, a lot colder than today.

Getting a new flag had not been easy. Pearson had a deep belief that we needed a made-in-Canada flag that had no colonial ties. He said:

I believe that today a flag designed around the Maple Leaf, will symbolise and be a true reflection of the new Canada.

In 1964, Pearson proposed this publicly at the Royal Canadian Legion convention in Winnipeg, where he really walked into the lion’s den — in fact, the lion’s jaws. The Legion, although an extremely patriotic group, did not want to see the flag changed.

A committee of MPs subsequently held more than 35 meetings and received more than 3,500 submissions from Canadians.

The Pearson pennant featured three maple leaves with narrow blue bars on either side. The version that was approved was designed by historian George Stanley.

The first flag was sewn by Joan O’Malley from November 6 to November 7. She literally sewed it overnight, and is only one of two women to appear in the history of the Canadian flag.

Interestingly, the other woman is Margaret Konantz, one of very few women MPs at the time, a Liberal MP from Winnipeg of Métis ancestry and the only Indigenous person to play a key role in the development of the flag.

The flag was approved on December 15 by the House of Commons after an incredible and not necessarily harmonious debate. The final vote took place at 2 a.m. after a six-month debate.

It then came here to the Senate for a vote. It was approved in the House of Commons on December 15. Are there any guesses as to when it was approved in the Senate? It was approved on December 17. Sober second thought was rather quick.

I think Senator Moodie might have been disappointed because, at best, they would have had just a Committee of the Whole, with no committee examination.

I’m sorry if that was too soon.

At any rate, the Queen gave it Royal Assent on January 28 in London, an occasion that was attended by both Pearson and Diefenbaker, which is important to note because Diefenbaker had been totally opposed to the new flag. However, once it was passed, he was present for the Royal Assent.

The occasion wasn’t overly joyous, however, because the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were in London for the state funeral of Winston Churchill. Churchill had died on January 24; during the week between his passing and his funeral, our wonderful flag received Royal Assent.

It is fitting that we had a more joyous occasion here on February 15, the day that the new Maple Leaf flag was officially raised on Parliament Hill for the first time. The Maple Leaf has become a well-recognized symbol around the world, one that Canadians can wear with great pride. We often hear that other people wear it on their backpacks to pass as Canadians, because they are better accepted that way.

At home and abroad, it means so much to so many. It’s certainly a possession of great pride for every new Canadian when they take their oath of citizenship. That is certainly something I can attest to.

I have two thoughts: First, while the flag inspires great pride for most Canadians, this feeling is not necessarily as prevalent among Indigenous people, as the flag does symbolize the Canadian state and, in some ways, colonialism; it is a state that has not always been kind to Indigenous people and a flag that sometimes flew atop residential schools.

Second, more recently I’ve become concerned that the Canadian flag has been adopted by people who want to see governments removed by undemocratic means and feel an unlawful extended occupation of our nation’s capital and harassment of innocent citizens are fair forms of civil disobedience — people who fly it in protest, sometimes upside down or defaced.

In my own way, I want to say on the record that our Maple Leaf flag symbolizes us as a country, a people and a society, and we must respect and defend it. It is the flag of one of the best countries in the world, a country that reaches for the top and, unlike most others, is willing to examine its imperfections and work to overcome them. That is the genius of the Canadian state and the enormity of Canadian society.

Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Cardozo, for launching this inquiry and giving us the opportunity to say a few words.

Honourable senators, according to statistics released from the 2021 Census, those born before 1965 make up less than one third of the Canadian population. This means that 71% of Canadians have only known the red maple leaf as the symbol of our country. As we know, February 15, 1965, was the day that the simple yet majestic flag, stark red on bright white, flew for the first time.

The debate for or against a new Canadian flag to replace the British Empire’s Union Jack and Canada’s Red Ensign was heated and passionate. As Senator Cardozo mentioned, Lester B. Pearson decided in 1961 that Canada needed a new flag and made that promise part of the Liberal Party platform. The Liberals’ arrival in power in 1963 marked the start of a fierce debate over the flag.

As our colleague has mentioned, the opposition Progressive Conservative Party, under the leadership of John Diefenbaker, opposed a new flag. The Progressive Conservatives wanted to retain the Red Ensign. Debate raged on to the point that former Prime Minister Pearson kept Parliament in session through the summer of 1964. Finally, a special flag committee was set up, and members were given six weeks to come up with a new design.

The committee held 35 lengthy meetings and — again, as noted by Senator Cardozo — reviewed more than 3,500 submissions, including one submission from an eight-year-old Ontario student, who is now a proud member of our Government Representative Office team. That was not the one that was selected, unfortunately.

Not me; I was not yet born.

It was not Senator LaBoucane-Benson.

I will continue and am happy to share that.

After much discussion and some shenanigans on the part of both major parties, the red maple leaf on white with red borders was chosen by the committee. However, it wasn’t until after 250 speeches in the House of Commons and the invocation of closure on the part of former Prime Minister Pearson that, in the early hours of the morning of December 15, 1964, the red maple leaf became Canada’s flag and Canada’s pride. The Senate provided sober second thought and, two days later, gave its approval as well.

Today there are very few of us, perhaps not in this chamber, but beyond, who remember the great flag debate. I hope I speak for all of us when I say that seeing the red Maple Leaf flying atop the Peace Tower, on the uniforms of our Armed Forces, carried by our athletes during the Olympic Games or sewn on the backpacks of young Canadians seeing the world — of which I was one 50 years ago, hitchhiking through North Africa and Europe with my guitar in hand, without a patch, but happy to see the patch because I knew that I could connect with my fellow Quebecers and Canadians — in all of those manifestations brings a sense of pride and gratitude — gratitude that we live in one of the greatest countries in this world. Thank you once again, colleagues, and thank you, Senator Cardozo.

I have a brief question, if Senator Gold would accept.

Of course.

I wanted to bring a little more history into this. I was not sure if you or our colleagues are aware that those flag hearings that took place in the mid-sixties — and that was before I was born — took place in the Senate, in Centre Block, in a hallway in a room there. I think it was Room S-256 or S-156. I’m not sure of the exact room number. Yes, 256, I believe. But that is where those flag hearings took place. I did not know if you knew that.

Thank you for that. No, I did not know. That is my answer to your question.

Again, it is nice to be connected to a part of our history, even if some of us were not yet born.

Thank you, Senator Cardozo, for initiating this inquiry on our flag. It is a great opportunity for all of us.

Honourable senators, many of us take for granted the idea that the flag represents the same thing to everyone. Prior to working in Ottawa, the Canadian flag was not something I thought much about.

When I first arrived in Ottawa after being appointed to the Senate, I must admit there was a certain excitement and a great sense of pride in seeing the flag, our Maple Leaf, on top of the Peace Tower. Knowing that I was here to represent my province of Nova Scotia as part of Team Canada was pretty special.

I must add that I still pinch myself and feel that same pride wash over me when I travel internationally on government business and I see our flag, whether on embassies or at NATO meetings or at meetings with people from other countries. In seeing that flag, I am also reminded of my father who fought in Italy during World War II. That connection for me is very emotional and very sentimental. That is what our flag means to me.

Honourable senators, symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen, creating linkages between otherwise different concepts and experiences. The flag, in many respects, exemplifies this. We do not all have the same experiences or feelings toward the flag and what it represents, but our flag does create a linkage and a context that inspires conversation. At the very least, I hope this is the case. I hope conversations, particularly around reconciliation, can be had and that we allow space for the differing emotions surrounding the flag.

May Flag Day inspire a look inward to examine what, if anything, Flag Day means to us as individuals and why it may mean that, while understanding that those sentiments are not necessarily shared.

I would like to finish my comments by quoting Tareq Hadhad, a Syrian refugee living in Nova Scotia, who, with his father, started a chocolate business called Peace by Chocolate in Antigonish. If you have never tasted their chocolate, I suggest that you do so. Here is his quote:

Forever the Canadian flag will be associated in my memory with a welcoming sign I saw after I came to this country that said: “Peace for you in Canada.” Our flag has always meant hope and home to me. Whenever I saw it during my whole journey, I felt safe and free. Now, wherever it flies, I know I will meet the kindest people on the planet.

Thank you.

Madam Speaker, colleagues, I rise to speak to Senator Cardozo’s inquiry to mark the National Flag of Canada Day, which is today, February 15.

A symbol of Canadian identity, the red maple leaf on the Canadian flag is well known and recognized around the world.

As we celebrate our magnificent flag, it’s important to recognize its power beyond Canada’s borders. This multi-faceted flag also embodies Canada’s commitments to international relations and global diplomacy.

The Canadian flag plays a crucial role in the imaginations of people and governments around the world. As a symbol of Canadian values and our commitments to diplomacy, peace and cooperation, it serves as a backdrop for exchanges with other nations that share common goals and challenges, or for more contentious dialogues aimed at protecting the interests of Canadians.

In Canadian law, the living tree doctrine refers to a method of constitutional interpretation that recognizes that the Constitution is a living, evolving document. It allows constitutional rules to be interpreted in light of the evolution of our society.

Similarly, the Canadian flag is the visual representation of a society that is reinventing and transforming itself with the passage of time.

The Canadian flag carries a complex history and encourages reflection, inviting us to look carefully at the lives and experiences of those around us. This reflection serves as a guide for our societal aspirations and a springboard to our future.

If we want our flag to truly be representative of an evolving identity, it is our duty to contribute to building a collective consciousness that faithfully reflects everyone’s experiences and aspirations. We need to carefully consider the values and founding principles that transcend Canada’s image through its flag, by consciously and concretely getting involved in supporting decolonization, francophone minority communities, vulnerable and poor communities, gender equality, gender-diverse and sexually diverse communities, and efforts to welcome and help new immigrants. This list is not exhaustive, of course, but it includes some important societal issues. Our flag symbolizes all these ideals and aspirations and stands as a reflection of our commitment to building a better society.

As a world leader on fundamental rights, Canada has a duty to be consistent and responsible in the choices it makes, both domestically and internationally. The Canadian flag acts as a unique vector for spreading messages of international peace, cooperation and diplomacy and as a symbol of our country’s steadfast dedication to these crucial values.

On this National Flag of Canada Day, let’s take a moment to reflect on our past, our present and a future in which Canada inspires other nations to build a better, more peaceful and inclusive world. Let’s proudly and respectfully celebrate our national flag.

Thank you.

Honourable senators, I rise today to speak to the inquiry drawing attention to the National Flag of Canada Day.

To respond to Senator Cardozo, I will take this from my own experience as a veteran, and maybe it will help to understand why there was pushback when we looked at changing the symbol that so many Canadians have fought and died under.

As a veteran, I have to say, I never know whether I can truly put into words what the flag means to me, but I am going to give it a try because that’s what we do here.

I spent 34 years wearing the Canadian flag, the Maple Leaf, on my shoulder to uphold the values and what it represented — not only to Canadians but to people from around the world who were often in peril. For me, it was a symbol of pride, protection and belonging to something greater than myself, of service and of duty.

For those people I encountered, often in some pretty dire circumstances, it was seen as an easily recognizable symbol of hope and expectation. Senator Ataullahjan, you will recognize this next statement. Many Canadian Armed Forces members, including myself, can recount stories when deployed in conflict areas where the refrain “Canada, Canada, Canada” was called after us as we went about our business trying to create the conditions so that peace and security could prevail. It was not because of our uniforms. It was because, in accordance with international law, the Canadian flag — both visible and muted — was everywhere. It is what it came to represent.

Throughout my career, the Canadian flag has been an integral part of my identity. I have worn it proudly across this great nation and to many places around the world, including the Persian Gulf, Somalia, Afghanistan and many other countries. The flag has been ubiquitous throughout my adult years, flying proudly in all its red-and-white splendour wherever I have served, but you have to understand, not in active conflict areas because, believe me, it draws unwanted attention to our soldiers.

It is under the Maple Leaf that Canada’s sailors, soldiers and aviators serve. The Maple Leaf features on the ensigns of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. The Maple Leaf has primordially represented one of the most important symbols of our military, reinforcing the fact that, first and foremost, we serve and protect Canada and Canadians.

While it is certainly interesting for me to think about the patriotic impact of the flag, I have seen the power of that symbol on Canadian military personnel and allied soldiers as well. I have directly experienced and have heard stories shared by other Canadian Armed Forces military nurses and medical personnel in conflict zones as far away as Somalia, the Balkans and Afghanistan. I share a story with you about the palpable feeling of calm and release that has been experienced by wounded or ill Canadian or allied soldiers once they saw the flag on our shoulders or on the walls around us and when they realized that they were finally safe and that there was hope.

I want to continue the story of why the Canadian flag is so meaningful to me and perhaps why there was pushback when we first chose to change it. You only have to watch the news during the Afghanistan years or as recently as the downed Cyclone helicopter off the coast of Greece in 2020 to know that Canadians who choose to serve the flag may come home carefully draped in that very same flag after paying the ultimate price.

Senators, you don’t have to look far to see that the maple leaf that adorns our flag is, in fact, all around us in this very chamber. We see all 12 of the maple leafs that are indigenous to Canada on the floors, and we see our flag on the wall. I draw that link because we must never forget that we are all serving Canada in our own way.

I am so proud of our flag. It will forever be a symbol of hope, peace, order and service to this great country. Thank you. Meegwetch.

Honourable colleagues, I came to know and love our flag when I became an athlete. As a Canadian, my flag represents my country, my history, with its failures and successes. As an athlete, it represents even more: my extended athletic family.

I will never forget the first time the Canadian flag was raised for me — August 1996 in Atlanta. I had beat the odds, winning the 100-metre race 900ths of a second in front of the American favourite. This was my first gold medal and the very first time that I would have our flag raised just for me. Colleagues, indulge me in bragging a little.

Allow me to describe that moment for those of you who have never made it to an Olympic or Paralympic podium, like myself and Senator McBean.

There you are. You cross the finish line exhausted, excited, in shock, really. After years of dedication, hard work and discipline, you’ve made it. You are filled with adrenaline, just going through the motions in a dream: the victory lap, the media zone, the doping control, getting into your podium uniform and getting briefed on protocol. It is a bit of a blur. The reality of it all has not sunk in yet.

Finally, they take me to the middle of the stadium, pronounce my name, have me up on the podium, and then silence. I hear the first notes of our national anthem, and I watch the Maple Leaf rise very slowly. I remember I took a deep breath, and my eyes filled with tears, and my heart burst with joy and pride. There I was, staring at my flag, representing Canada, feeling the power of a whole country and feeling grateful for this flag and for what it represents — for this country, where I was able to go from a small town, a 13-year-old girl lying on the ground at our farm after my accident, then being included and supported all the way to that podium.

Colleagues, I had quite a few other occasions to watch this flag being raised for me, and I can tell you, it never gets old. Every single time I felt proud and grateful, and it was pure magic. Happy Flag Day!

Honourable senators, the Senate will now proceed to Question Period. The minister will take her seat and we will then proceed.