Flags lowered for Ford but not for Canadian soldiers

Canadian soldiers warrant same level of respect as foreign heads of state says Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota.

Full details contained in the media release

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Anthony Rota, the Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming, today expressed his disappointment at the Harper Government's decision to half-mast the National Flag of Canada on the Peace Tower in Ottawa, and on all Government of Canada buildings and establishments across the country, in honour of the late Gerald Ford, former President of the United States, while continuing to refuse to lower those same flags for Canadian soldiers who are killed while defending Canada.

“I would never seek to suggest that former President Ford is not worthy of the respect being extended to him and his family. To the contrary, he was a man who did much for Canada-US relations during his time as a Congressman, as the Vice-President and subsequently as the 38th President of the United States,” says Mr. Rota.
“What is unfathomable to me and to most Canadians, however, is that Stephen Harper and his Conservative Government have decided to lower the flag for a former American President, but will not grant the same level of respect to our fallen soldiers."

According to government protocol, cited on the Canadian Heritage website, lowering the flag atop the Peace Tower and other federal government buildings for foreign heads of state is done at the discretion of the Prime Minister and his cabinet.

“Unfortunately the Harper Government has stated that it is not appropriate to lower the Peace Tower Flag when a Canadian soldier is killed in action,” says Mr. Rota. “I, on the other hand, believe that if the flag can be lowered for former leaders of foreign nations then it can and should be lowered when our children are lost in the defence of this country.”

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