MP's bill would protect right to fly Canadian flag

Legislating stupidity... Too bad it happens. Hope this passes.

It's not a bad idea. We've got the same kind of things happening down here with people who hate the flag trying to restrict people from flying it despite a Federal law exempting the US flag from Federal, state, and local restrictions that are not directly related to public safety.

In California in the past year or so there was a school that banned the US flag because it was 'offensive' to Mexican students and the Federal law was properly invoked to put an end to that BS. It would not surprise me to find the same kind of horsepuckey going on up north so this law is not a bad idea.

Wouldn't the First Amendment also bypass any restrictions?

Only if the warden is too stupid to just move it to a part of the cell that doesn't restrict the view of the guards.

Despite Byrne's whining, considering the national anthem has been essentially banned in several schools across the country, this just seems like a good pre-emptive measure to prevent the same bullshit from becoming ingrained in respect to our flag.

Well if Juan Wetback is offended by it, then he should get the coyotes to refund his 'immigration fees' and head back to Meh HEE ko

It is not quite that straightforward. The Bill is probably well intentioned but it is not well thought out and needs amendments.

Landlords object to it because tenants sometimes fix flags to buildings. Not just fly them.

Then, a point that is raised is that of desecration. Is it desecration to fly a flag that is worn to tatters.

It is not an issue that I have thought much about; nor have I read just what is proposed but I have heard objections. Not to the flag but to the Bill.

Besides, who needs this CPC initiative at this time when there are prisons to be built and oil companies to be facilitated and tax changes to shift the burden further away from the CPC supporters. Could it not wait until the CPC has lost its urgew to destroy?

It's a stupid "let's be like Americans" law that's not needed, not wanted, but it will make more criminals which is what they're good at doing.

Yeah! Protected speech? Who needs it? That's American-style.

Christ, every time the Conservatives fart you people compare him to the Americans. You need a new play book.

almost raised some points worthy of considering, the flag needs to be treated with respect.

And then you fuck it up with your typical partisan asshattery.

Well done.

The flag needs to be treated with respect, Martin, but even more so does Parliament. Riding roughshod over the will of Canadians should not be buried under a welter of "patriotic" shams.

This government has used this tactic several times. Any who criticise the Afghanistan misadventure are "denigrating our brave soldiers." They make me cringe (and furious) with their false patriotism.

I 100% agree. I wish we had a law like that in The States. If the Canadian Flag flying in Canada is offensive to anybody as the mother would have put it "That is too God damn bad".

In my Optical shop inside America's Largest Retailer my manager had to take down an American Flag poster as it might offend the local immigrant community. So yes that BS happens here too.

There are thee flags that I fly routinely at my home: The US flag, The Canadian Flag and the Hawaiian depending on the mood I am in. If anybody has a problem with any of the above that is real unfortunate.

Guys -- we already have protections on the freedom of speech that adequately cover this subject. This new law will not change anything one bit. It's cheap pandering. Why don't we pass another law, that protects the word right to say the word "Canada". Then lets pass a third law that protects the right drive to a national memorial. Then we can pass a fourth law that protects the right to fly a Canadian flag while driving to national memorial and saying the word "Canada".

In fact, lets spend hours and hours trying to think of every possible patriotic symbol and action, and then ammend the Constituion with countless provisions that spell out in detail the right to engage in each of these actions.

There is no crisis of Canadians being unable to fly the flag...thats why this bill is stupid.

So you'd be OK with doing away with 'hate crimes' too? The laws are already on our books to deal with threats, intimidation, harassment and assault.