Appendix

Some Advantages of Maintaining

Rigidly the Basic Design

(Red Leaves on White Field)

1. Political The government could never be charged with tamper-

ing with symbols. There have been cruel jibes already

about "Pearson's pennant" and "Mike's fancy."

We would be impregnable if we presented what is

already tradition.

2. Legal The basic design would in no wise deviate from what

has been proclaimed by George V in 1921 at the request

of Canada and reconfirmed by Elizabeth II in

1962.

3. Aesthetic Simplicity is the first requirement for heraldic dignity

and beauty. A noble flag cannot be cluttered. Long

experience has established that the most powerful

and most dramatic effect is achieved with one metal

(e.g., white) and one tincture (e.g., red) standing in

contrast without any distracting influences.

4. Functional Subordinates will be required calling for the use of

dark blue, sky blue, and more red. Blue bars added

to the basic would destroy the effect of a white ensign,

a blue ensign or a red ensign.

5. Visual A flag is a signalling device and visibility at a distance

is not enhanced by cramping the leaves together or

reducing scale. Moreover blue outside edges may

blend into sky, or sea, and distort flag shape. Outer

edges soon fray and spoil balance.

6. International Flying the "sea to sea" message in addition to that

established for "Canada" when 42 other countries

have seatosea boundaries is an empty and idle boast

that will invite ridicule.

7. Colors Canada has hesitantly established national colors,

white and redour earliest frontier medal, North

West Mounted and later Royal Canadian Mounted

Police, Royal Military College, and then boldly

following the proclamation of Nov. 21, 1921 with

full legal authority—the Canada Medal and the

Canadian Forces Decoration (CD). Adding blue

stripes to our flag tends to confound the national

colors proclaimed in the arms (shown in the wreath

of the liveries, mantling and base) now well and

firmly established since the corrections effected in

1957.

8. Legislative A flag of basic design could be described thus, "The

flag of Canada shall consist of the colours and the

emblem proclaimed on November 21, 1921 that is

three red maple leaves conjoined on one stem occupying

a white field." The addition of blue bars at

once introduces the need for complex geometric

draftsmanship of both bars and leaves. (The result is

a resolution harder to sell to the Commons and the

country.)

9. Heraldic This is an heraldic flag and accordingly should conform

to heraldic principles. You do not fly mottoes

on flags. Moreover a sea in heraldry is shown

horizontally by a wavy fess. There will be informed

comment on any flag Canada adopts and any indication

of amateurism will not escape criticism.

10. Popularity For many people the Canadian Red Ensign was

popular. The new flag should not degrade it. It can

be argued in adopting the basic design that we have

taken the 1/48th area that related to Canada out of

the maze of the past to boldly present the single

message Canada; to do otherwise is to invite the continued

militant opposition of a host of patriotic

organizations.