Last week the government virtually ignored a House of Commons vote calling for the reinstatement of flag lowering whenever a Canadian soldier is killed overseas. Initiated by the Liberals, the motion had opposition party support but was non-binding in nature.
The government, instead, will ask the Commons heritage committee to review a panel report that recommends against lowering the Peace Tower flag whenever a soldier dies and also cited a number of other occasions when the flag should remain up.
That has caused controversy since the flag is lowered on Dec. 6 in recognition of violence against women, police and peace officers memorial remembrance day on the last Sunday in September and Workers’ Mourning Day on April 28.
The flag lowering also recognizes Canadian casualties on Vimy Ridge Day on April 9.
There are many causes that may be worthy of lowering the flag over parliament but our politically-correct attempts to recognize all the fallen and misfortunate, only serves to cheapen the ritual over the country’s Peace Tower.
It would be difficult for the government to take away any flag lowering already initiated – suggesting that the innocent deaths of police and peace officers and the violence inflicted on women will no longer be recognized as flag worthy. If we have already, as a country, designated those events as worthy of our honour and respect through the lowering of the country’s flag, then they should remain.
Should we honour each and every soldier killed in battle in Afghanistan with the lowering of the Canadian flag? These brave, young men pay the ultimate sacrifice for their country in performance of their chosen duties. The flag at the National Department of Defence is lowered each and every time a soldier is killed in action.
Each report of the death of another Canadian is heart wrenching and one can only imagine the pride that masks the grief and suffering of the families who must deal with the death. We should honour and respect our soldiers. We certainly owe them that. However, the flag is the iconic symbol of our country and the proud emblem of a young nation. The lowering of the flag on Remembrance Day over the Peace Tower, recognizes the sacrifice of all Canadian soldiers, both men and women, and the significant part Canada played in the great conflicts of the world.
Lowering the flag for any other occasions will only diminish the significance of the act. The government is in a tough spot. It should retain the occasions now that it deems worthy of flag lowering but there should be no additions.
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