Why the Canadian flag reflected the citizens

Many people in Canada wanted a new flag. This was demonstrated in many ways, with one of the most powerful sparks for this desire being Canada’s newly gained independence. The Union Jack on the Red Ensign (which was Canada’s unofficial flag previously) did not truly represent the now independent country. A quote in the Quebec Chronicle Telegraph puts this very nicely: “Canada has progressed from a Dominion to autonomous nation and it was best to have a flag that reflected that situation”. Also in the time around the Great flag debate many people were immigrating to Canada , also most of the people who immigrated where not from the British Empire making the Union Jack on the Red Ensign an eye sore to this new demographic. That’s not to say that Canada’s native population was entirely thrilled by the Union Jack either. The Quebecois opposed the Union Jack and pushed for a new flag more than ever basing their argument on that the flag should have absolutely no traces of colonialism. Canada’s diverse population and independence are well reflected by the flag, by having no symbolic ties to other countries.