All the nation’s residing former prime ministers are asking Canadians to fly the purple maple leaf this weekend in an enormous show of nationwide satisfaction because the nation stares down U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to its economic system and sovereignty.
Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin and Stephen Harper have collectively written an open letter, telling Canadians to “present the flag as by no means earlier than” because the nation contends with “threats and insults from Donald Trump.”
“Let’s fly our flag with satisfaction. Let’s present the world that we’re pleased with our historical past and pleased with our nation,” the previous first ministers write.
“We have had our share of battles previously. However all of us agree on one factor: Canada, the true north, sturdy and free, the very best nation on this planet, is value celebrating and combating for.”
Saturday is Flag Day, which is held yearly to mark the primary time the purple and white maple leaf flag was raised on Parliament Hill on Feb. 15, 1965, changing the Canadian Crimson Ensign.
The 5 former prime ministers write they’ve “witnessed a surge of Canadian satisfaction and patriotism” within the wake of Trump’s threats and they’re heartened to see so many individuals “come collectively to specific their love for our nation and their willpower to defend Canada’s values and our independence.”
Former prime ministers Jean Chrétien, left, and Stephen Harper, proper, are among the many former leaders who signed the open letter. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press)
Since his inauguration final month, Trump has repeatedly mocked Canada’s economic system and navy and has threatened to make use of “financial drive” to by some means persuade Canadians to hitch the U.S. because the 51st state. Polls present Canadians are overwhelmingly towards the concept.
Simply final weekend, Trump stated Canada was “not viable as a rustic” with out U.S. commerce, and warned that the founding NATO member can now not rely upon the U.S. for navy safety.
After brokering a commerce conflict pause with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau final week, Trump introduced Monday he’s going forward with punishing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian metal and aluminum in March.
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U.S. tariff threats and the potential of a commerce conflict are already having an impression on how some Canadians spend their cash, with many saying they’re boycotting American merchandise and shopping for Canadian.
These actions have prompted an outpouring of nationwide satisfaction as many Canadians have opted to purchase home merchandise — there is a Made in Canada Fb group with almost 900,000 members — and a few grocers are reporting consumers are outright boycotting American items to protest Trump. There’s additionally been a decline in cross-border journeys with U.S. wait instances a lot shorter than regular at some ports of entry.
It is in that context that Clark, Campbell, Chrétien, Martin and Harper are asking Canadians to place the nation’s nationwide symbols on show as a present of energy.
The Canadian Crimson Ensign was changed as Canada’s official flag in 1965 after a lot debate. (Dave Chidley/The Canadian Press)
Liberal management contender Mark Carney welcomed the “present of unity and management” within the wake of Trump’s abuse.
“Canada is a lot larger than our politics,” Carney stated in a social media submit.
Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre is planning what he is calling a “Canada First” rally in Ottawa on Saturday and individuals are inspired to put on purple and white in honour of the nation’s flag.
In a letter of her personal to Canadians, Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge stated it is vital “this 12 months, greater than ever” to have a good time the flag and “remind ourselves what it represents: our values, our resilience and our sovereignty.”
St-Onge stated there can be a particular ceremony in Ottawa on Friday the place officers and youth will unfurl the flag alongside the historic Rideau Canal.
“This nationwide emblem represents the values all of us cherish — generosity, openness, respect and equality. A flag that might not be mistaken for every other, it connects us to our nationwide id, to our Canadian satisfaction and to one another,” she stated.
St-Onge additionally inspired folks to cheer for Group Canada at Saturday’s much-anticipated 4 Nations Face-Off hockey recreation. Flags can be on show as Canada, led by captain Sidney Crosby, performs the U.S. in Montreal.
Members of Parliament maintain the brand new Canadian flag throughout the flag debate in Ottawa, the 12 months earlier than it was adopted. (Library and Archives Canada)
This 12 months is a very vital milestone — it has been 60 years because the maple leaf changed the Crimson Ensign.
That outdated flag was dropped after a contentious debate.
Some Canadians, most notably former prime minister John Diefenbaker, needed to maintain the Crimson Ensign, which prominently featured the Union Jack, as a result of it was a nod to Canada’s British roots but additionally as a result of troops fought and died below that flag in nation-defining conflicts.
Then-prime minister Lester Pearson, in the meantime, needed a flag that was distinctly Canadian to say the nation’s unity and independence within the generally tumultuous post-Second World Conflict interval, which was marked by an upswing in Quebecois separatism.
The maple leaf flag flies in entrance of the Peace Tower on Parliament hill in Ottawa on Feb. 15, 1965 — its first day flown on the seat of presidency. (Canadian Press)
Amid a fierce political standoff, a parliamentary committee finally settled on historian George Stanley’s suggestion that the nation go along with a single maple leaf, a design impressed by the flag of the Royal Army Faculty.
Parliament authorized the change, after a fractious debate, and it was formally adopted when Queen Elizabeth issued a proclamation.
Opposition to the flag ultimately pale away.
The federal government’s personal knowledge reveals most Canadians regard the flag as one of the vital symbols of the nation second solely to the Constitution of Rights and Freedoms however forward of the nationwide anthem, hockey and the RCMP.
