Flag-elation!

Last week, Danny Williams, the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, chose to express his disappointment with the federal government's double-talk about oil royalties. Paul Martin, our spirited national leader, is accused of going back on his word. The protest involves a provincial order to remove all Canadian flags (yes, the wretched Maple Leaf designer flag) from all provincial facilities and buildings in Newfoundland and Labrador. What an idea! Now, and finally, the Prime Minister has awaken and has gone on the attack, climbing up on some sort of federal moral high horse, if one could imagine the existence of such a creature. It is "disrespectful of all Canadians," the PM said. Lowering flags is sinful; going back on one's promises is apparently not at all an affront. It does not seem to meet the same criteria of disrespect (This is, after all, the same man who paraded for more than a year promising to cure the country's "democratic deficit," to make government more open and more transparent, but now refuses to divulge the salaries of his protectors (or is it his protectorate?) in the Prime Minister's Office. We want openness, do we not? Perhaps going back on one's promises does not count at all for those who get to the PMO. Should we say "scrap GST"? Perhaps we will not).

But let us get back to the flags. Let me say that while the whole thing is patently silly, it is also indicative of the frustration of the Premier. He had been trying to get the attention of the feds for months on the oil and gas royalty-revenue issue. The reasons for the protest, even if not the means, are serious and we should uphold any Canadian's choice to protest in that manner. To my mind, there is nothing disrespectful about it. Surely, it is reminiscent of the sort of folly we have seen in Quebec City, and with the Bloc Quebecois in Parliament, etc. There have been similar protests involving flags in Canada before, however, and this one will likely not be the last one. Also rearing its head again is a version of the "enemies of Canada" tactic that was most popularized by PM Mulroney during Meech (yes, all the way back to 1990). Martin would be surprised to recollect that he is in good Conservative company on this one.

HOWEVER, this Canadian, Mister Prime Minister, is not at all insulted or feels disrespected for or by what our brothers and sisters in Newfoundland are trying to communicate to you. If only you would get it, prime minister!! Reneging one's word has got to be more serious than lowering flags. I am perfectly okay with Newfoundlanders lowering all the Maples Leaves in sight. Oh, but if it were the Red Ensign, on the other hand, then there would be blood!