The Canadian Flag Debate Essay

Canada had been an exceptional country for many years but features always weren’t getting one thing. Until the year 1965, Canada did not have their own established flag.

The Canadian flag debate was obviously a major controversy to Canada because a large number of thought it was about time for Canada to have their own flag years after getting their freedom from Britain. The Canadian flag argument had a very interesting background and the Canadians participation towards the banner debate was just extraordinary. As well as the creation of the Canadian flag, there was also a great deal of importance lurking behind the Canadian flag debate itself within just Canada.

The Canadian flag debate was one of the most significant parts of Canadian history in the present00 era. Inside the 1963 government election plan, Liberal Resistance Leader Lester Pearson guaranteed that he’d give Canadians a distinct national flag during his 1st term in office. (The Great Canadian Flag Argument, Banner Debate) The Canadian Flag Debate experienced taken place upon June 15, 1964 Primary Minister Lester Bowles Pearson scheduled his plans for any new flag in the House of Commons to represent Canada. (Flag Debate, The Canadian Encyclopedia) As Canada entered Confederation in 1867, Canada’s official flag had been Britain’s Union Jack port, although the Crimson Ensign was regularly flown about intended for qualified purposes.

Pearson desired to create a noticeably Canadian banner that would reveal no colonial time or social symbolism of Great Britain. The French Canadians followed a keen involvement in the controversy while stress were installation amongst the British Canadians. Steve George Diefenbaker had used an opposition towards Pearson’s idea of the Canadian flag and that The united kingdom should be honored on the flag of Canada. Now the ensuing controversy raged not over whether there should be a new banner, but about its design and style. This little conflict experienced lasted for over six months, bitterly dividing the government in the process.

Afterwards, soon after Diefenbaker’s government arrived to power this individual continued his protest with the Canadian flag and he set out a filibuster that brought the debate to a big stop. After stalling and stopping the passageway of a new Canadian banner, the Very conservative in electrical power had enough and forced a vote over Pearson’s design of the new flag.

The results came out that 163 members voted in favour of it such like 15 Feb ., 1965, the red maple leaf was flown for the first time as Canada’s official flag and The Maple Leaf quickly became a powerful Canadian image, showing simply how much Canada had changed in one generation. (Flag Debate, The Canadian Encyclopedia) Under pressure from pro-imperial public thoughts and opinions, Sir Wilfrid Laurier raised the Union Flag more than Parliament, exactly where it continued to be until the re-emergence of the Red Ensign inside the 1920s. 66 years ago, Prime Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) William Lyon Mackenzie Full, having flown the Union Jack more than Parliament over the war, produced the Canadian Red Ensign the official Canadian flag by simply Order in Council.

Mackenzie King as well tried to provide Canada a fresh flag. The recommendation that came back was obviously a Red Chain of office, but replacing the layer of biceps and triceps of Canada with a rare metal maple tea leaf. Mackenzie King stopped the venture. (Great Canadian Banner Debate, Wikipedia) In 1963, Primary Minister Lester B. Pearson pitched his idea to get a new banner during a talk to the Canadian Legion in Winnipeg.

I believe that today a flag designed throughout the Maple Leaf, will symbolize and be an absolute reflection of the new Canada. Since boos resonated throughout the audience, Pearson acquired a peek of the controversy he’d removed. Instead of uniting the country, the flag became yet another divisive issue.

Support, laments and threats put in to Pearson’s office since the country discussed its flag. Canadians were deeply divided on the banner issue. A few felt a powerful attachment to the mother nation and its Union Jack. Other folks disagreed upon what new symbol ought to represent the. (Flag Issue, The Canadian Encyclopedia) It was only Quebec that showed mare like a lack of interest towards the flag issue.

Quebec does not offer a tinkers atteinte about the modern flag, Liberal politician Pierre Trudeau said. Its a matter of complete indifference. (The Great Banner Debate, CBC Learning)Conservative leader Ruben Diefenbaker, insisted that the Union Jack always be incorporated into the new banner to reveal Canadas English heritage. The Liberals and New Democratic Party wished something with maple leaves.

Canadians had been invited to use their imagination and ability and send ideas for a flag. As many as 5, 900 alternative models were delivered to Ottawa. A 15-member all-party committee was formed to review the suggestions and make a recommendation. Pearsons preferred style of three maple leaves was finally declined in favour of a design suggested by the vem som st?r George Stanley that featured a single tea leaf flanked by red bars.

Diefenbaker dismissively said that it looked like the Peruvian flag. The parliamentary debate around the flag was lengthy and ugly. It consumed 37 seated days: the Conservatives produced 210 speeches, the Liberals 50, the NDP twenty four, Social Credit rating 15, and the CrГ©ditistes 9. Pearson ultimately used the principles of seal to limit speeches to twenty minutes and force a vote. That vote was taken on December 12-15, 1964 plus the committee’s advice was accepted 163 to 78. Canada’s flag was officially hoisted at the Tranquility Tower in Parliament Mountain on Feb 15, 65.

During the Canadian flag debate many thought as if the debate would divide Canadians in the creation of the fresh flag and this arguments intended for and against the new flag would craze across the country. Various Canadians though, felt upbeat over the recommendation of a new Canadian banner to represent Canada. From coast to coast, Canadians leaped in the debate by simply creating their own designs for any new flag. One news reporter said that, It seems that every Canadian which has a pot of paint, some paper and artsy pretensions lay down to bring a flag.

In the morning he stated that the Parliamentary mail areas were just built up with drawings to get a possible design of the new Canadian Flag. In Canada it certainly showed that lots of Canadians had been eager to help you in the wonderful Canadian banner debate and to prove to Canada that they were willing to assist whenever required. The Canadian flag controversy had a quite strong importance over the country.

Although, there were various governmental red flags which showed Canada as a state, there was no formal flag which represented Canada as persistent nation. The flag argument did not derive from indifference for Canadians to flags, but quite the reverse. This resulted from your passion that these symbols aroused in Canadians.

The difficulty with the flag issue did not happen from any kind of inherent unwillingness of Canadians to proclaim their identity upon red flags, but their revolutionary inability to agree upon a common emblematic identity. In retrospect, the choice of such emblematic would seem to acquire been inescapable, but now to see a maple tea leaf is to consider Canada. The complete importance is that many people helped out throughout the method and in the end everyone was pleased with the end merchandise of the new Maple tea leaf flag. The Canadian banner debate was obviously a long and well thought process by every Canadians and was one of the most significant parts of Canadian history in the modern era. Before the year 65, Canada would not have presently there own standard flag.

Various thought it was time for Canada to have their particular flag years after gaining their freedom from Great britain. On Feb . 15, 1965, Finally Canada’s official banner was hoisted at the Peacefulness Tower in Parliament Hillside. BIBLIOGRAPHY Archbold, Rick. The Great Canadian Flag Issue, Banner Debate http://www.flagdebate.com/ Great Canadian Flag Debate, Wikipedia 10 January 2011 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Canadian_Flag_Debate Matheson, John Ross.

Flag Debate, The Canadian Encyclopedia http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/flag-debate The Superb Flag Argument, CBC Learning 16 November 2001 http://www.cbc.ca/history/EPISCONTENTSE1EP16CH1PA2LE.html The Canadian Banner Debate Jeremy Snyder Mr. Seca Mon January 13, 2013