Items from the Canadian Parliamentary Flag Program

:''See

Parliament of Canada The Parliament of Canada (french: Parlement du Canada) is the federal legislature of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, and is composed of three parts: the King, the Senate, and the House of Commons. By constitutional convention, the ...

for an overall explanation of the functioning and composition of the Parliament of Canada'' :''See Department of Canadian Heritage for an overall explanation of the responsibilities of the Department of Canadian Heritage'' The objective of the Canadian Parliamentary Flag Program is to enable Canadian parliamentarians, from both Senate and House of Commons, to promote national symbols and to encourage Canadians to express pride in their

symbols A symbol is a mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different conc ...

. In December 1972, Cabinet approved a program under which senators and members of the

House of Commons of Canada The House of Commons of Canada (french: Chambre des communes du Canada) is the lower house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Crown and the Senate of Canada, they comprise the bicameral legislature of Canada. The House of Common ...

would receive flags and flag pins for distribution to constituents. An annual quota was established and the Canadian Parliamentary Flag Program went into effect on April 1, 1973.

Administration

In January each year the various government whips receive a letter from the Department of Canadian Heritage addressed to all

members of parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

(MPs) and senators, explaining the Canadian Parliamentary Flag Program and the items to be included in the allotment. Enclosed with this letter is a form which each parliamentarian must complete and then fax to the offices of the Department of Canadian Heritage in order to secure their allocation.

Allocation

Whilst a number of different items are included in the allocation, the type and quantity sent to each parliamentarian is fixed. MPs receive approximately twice the amount of promotional items as senators. The Department of Canadian Heritage sets aside a reserve in case an election is called, so that all new members of parliament would automatically receive an allotment package.

References

*Canadian Heritage
"Administration of the Parliamentary Flag Program"
(archived) *Nick Weekes, FFI. "Official Promotion of Flags and Flag Flying in Canada, Australia and New Zealand"

External links

Flag of Canada Song (1965) Freddie Grant

National Flag of Canada (Department of Canadian Heritage)

Royal Proclamation

Flag Etiquette in Canada
*
CBC Digital Archives – The Great Canadian Flag Debate

Canadian Flag Clip Art Gallery
* {{nationalflags National symbols of Canada

Administration

Allocation

See also

References

External links