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Parliament Hill Flag Program Faces 100-Year Backlog With 110,000 Pending Requests

Public Services and Procurement Canada plans to keep the program unchanged despite surging demand.

Kate Warman, 11, stands under a Canada flag that once flew over the Peace Tower while her mom Kristine and dad Casey (not pictured) unfurl the flag at their home in Halifax.
OTTAWA - June 24 2025 -- Stu Rathbone waited 14 years to receive his Canadian flag from the Peace Tower. It now takes more than 100 years to receive a Peace Tower flag, or any flag from Parliament Hill because the demand for the flag program is so strong.    TONY CALDWELL, Postmedia.
The Canadian flag is shown on Parliament Hill on Ottawa.
 Public Works building engineer Robert Labonté is also Parliament’s Flag master responsible for each day changing the Canadian flag atop the Peace Tower, as well as weekly replacements of the four other flags on Parliament Hill.

Overview

  • The program replaces about 450 flags annually, resulting in a waitlist that spans roughly a century.
  • As of mid-2025, approximately 110,000 Canadians are on the queue awaiting their flag.
  • Requests peaked during the 2018 Canada 150 celebrations and this year’s demand is tracking at similar highs.
  • Each recipient receives a Peace Tower flag measuring roughly 7½ by 15 feet, often surprising them with its scale.
  • Applicants who die before receiving their flag may designate a beneficiary to preserve their place in line, otherwise their file is closed.