National Flag Day Ceremony Held at Kingston’s City Hall 


A special flag day birthday cake was made in honour of the flag’s 40th anniversary.  Former M.P. John Matheson made the first cut into the cake. 

Pictured here from left to right: Mrs. Edith Matheson, Hon. Liza Frulla, Minister of Heritage, Mr. John Matheson, former M.P., Rt. Hon. Paul Martin, Prime Minister, and Hon. Peter Milliken, M.P.  

Photo taken by: Brigitte Bouvier, PMO

On February 15, the maple leaf flag turned 40. In Kingston, the occasion was marked by a ceremony at city hall with former M.P. John Matheson and his wife Edith Matheson, Prime Minister Paul Martin, Minister of Heritage, Hon. Liza Frulla, Hon. Peter Milliken, M.P., and two hundred guests in attendance. 

The search for the new flag began in earnest in 1925, when a committee of the Privy Council researched possible designs for a national flag. However, the work of the committee was never completed. 

The flag debate was settled in 1964 under Lester B. Pearson’s minority government, and the flag’s origin has close ties to the Kingston region. The names of Mr. John Matheson and Dr. George Stanley stand out in the story of the Canadian flag. Mr. Matheson, former M.P. for Leeds, was perhaps one of the strongest supporters of a new flag, and played a key role in bringing the sometimes rowdy debate to fruition. Dr. Stanley was a Dean of Arts at the Royal Military College. 

He brought to the attention of the flag committee the visual of RMC’s flag: a red and white combination that reflects a strong sense of Canadian history. He suggested replacing the College Crest with a red maple leaf. 

After much debate, the design was adopted by Parliament and approved by royal proclamation. It became Canada’s flag on February 15th 1965.

Investing in the Quality of the Great Lakes 

As residents of Kingston the quality and health of the Great Lakes affects us to a great extent.  Budget 2005, provides a further $40 million over the next five years to the Great Lakes Action Plan. 

Building on achievements made since 1989, this initiative will continue the environmental restoration of key aquatic areas of concern under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between Canada and the United States, thereby helping restore the ecological and economic development potential of these areas. 

The Great Lakes Action Plan will continue to improve the quality of our water resources in Kingston and the Islands.

Canada’s Green Budget 

The Government of Canada believes that a healthy and sustainable environment is an integral part of economic growth.  Budget 2005 delivers on the Government’s commitment to a green economy with a $5 billion package of measures over the next five years to support a sustainable environment by:

·          Implementing the Kyoto Protocol by providing $1billion over five years for the Clean Fund to encourage cost-effective projects and actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

·          Providing $250 million over five years to quadruple the number of homes retrofitted under the EnerGuide for houses Retrofit Initiative program. 

See all the budget highlights at: http://www.fin.gc.ca/