Our flag, our Canada

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/02/2025 (294 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Today is the National Flag of Canada Day — the 60th anniversary of the adoption of our flag as our national emblem.

Since it was first raised on Parliament Hill on February 15, 1965, our flag has proudly and boldly represented our nation and the uniquely Canadian values upon which it stands — our unity, our equality and our collective strength.

Within Canada, our flag is a source of pride and national identity, representing the significant sacrifices made by so many to build and protect our nation. Internationally, it is universally recognized as a symbol of decency, friendship and stability.

That no doubt explains why so many non-Canadian travellers affix Canadian flag patches and decals to their luggage. They view it as a visual passport to respect and acceptance because of the high regard that many nations and their citizens have for Canada and Canadians generally.

Six decades after its adoption, our flag has taken on even greater significance this year. The incessant threats of annexation and economic harm emanating from the Trump administration in Washington has caused many of us to reflect on what it means to be Canadian, and our commitment to remaining Canadians.

Canada is facing an existential crisis unlike any this nation has seen its 157-year history. Our neighbour, our long-time ally and top trading partner, is mocking us and our leaders. It is threatening to not merely absorb us, but to crush us economically and subjugate us.

In response to this dire situation, Canada’s five living former prime ministers — Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin and Stephen Harper — are urging Canadians to fly the Maple Leaf with pride “as never before.”

In a joint statement they say, “The five of us come from different parties. We’ve had our share of battles in the past. But we all agree on one thing: Canada, the true north, strong and free, the best country in the world, is worth celebrating and fighting for.”

We agree. Canada is indeed worth celebrating and fighting for, and that is exactly what Canadians are doing.

From coast to coast to coast, it is heartening to see a large majority of Canadians soundly reject the notion of becoming America’s 51st state. As proof of that sentiment, many are severing their economic ties to the U.S. They are cancelling their Netflix subscriptions and vacation plans, ending their cross-border shopping, and they are proudly “buying Canadian.” We encourage you to do the same.

Collectively, all those small individual acts of personal protest will cost the American economy many millions of dollars, which will translate into thousands of American jobs. They also send a message to U.S. President Donald Trump and his supporters that Canada is not there for taking, and that there are costly consequences for their conduct.

More clearly, we are telling Trump and his misguided minions that geography may require Canada to be your neighbour, but stay on your side of the fence.

Will that alone cause the U.S. president to back away from his insults and intimidation? No, not on its own, but it is an important and necessary first step toward unifying all Canadians in the effort to protect our nation and each other from the threat posed by Trump.

That unity will be important in the weeks and months to come, as Trump’s threats inevitably become more tangible. He will attempt to play one region of Canada off against another, seeking to ensure that his tariffs harm some regions much more than others.

He and his MAGA supporters within and outside of Canada will attempt to prevent potential retaliatory responses to his tariffs by raising the spectre of a national unity crisis. He will even suggest that Canada is vulnerable to military attack, and in desperate need of America’s protection, as he did on Thursday.

He will do all of that and more as part of a strategy to divide us, break our spirit and our collective commitment. It won’t work, however, if we remain united and focused on our mission – our duty – to protect and preserve Canada.

It’s our Canada, it’s our flag, and that’s not going to change.