Former prime ministers rally Canadians to ‘show the flag’ for 60th Flag Day

All of Canada’s living former prime ministers are calling on Canadians to express their national pride and “show the flag” this weekend.

The past leaders are using Saturday’s Flag Day to both mark the 60th anniversary of the red maple leaf, and to show solidarity against U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.

In a joint statement, former prime ministers Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin and Stephen Harper urge Canadians to fly the Maple Leaf with pride as “never before.”

While Trump’s plans for sweeping tariffs on Canadian imports are on hold until at least March 4, the president signed executive orders Monday to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, including Canadian products, starting March 12.

Trump also has said repeatedly he wants Canada to become a U.S. state and could use economic pressure to make that happen.

With files from The Canadian Press.

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