Should it be illegal to burn the Canadian flag?
Flag desecration is any act that is carried out with the intention of damaging or destroying a national flag in public. This is commonly done in an effort to make a political statement against a nation or its policies. Some nations have acts that ban flag desecration while others have laws that protect the right to destroy a flag as a part of free speech. Some of these laws distinguish between a national flag and those of other countries.
Narrow down which types of responses you would like to see.
Narrow down the conversation to these participants:
Political party:
Province/Territory:
@9GMRH3X1yr1Y
Neutral. If a Canadian flag flying at a government building was burned, this act is considered a form of vandalism, which is illegal. If someone bought their own flag and burned, I do not believe that should be considered a crime.
@9TGFKC42mos2MO
I don't really think it matters. If they want to burn it they can, and they shouldn't have to go to jail for stating their opinion.
@9W6MXFY1mo1MO
If they personally spent money on buying the flag and burning it then it's a bad look if they arrested someone for that. But if it was someone's property then yes they should be punished.
@9JSD35Y10mos10MO
Yes, but we should create more ways for people to express their opinions in a more appropriate manner
@9F7DNYY1yr1Y
Yes, but only in cases that violate the limitations of free speech (such as inciting violence)
@9F5KMPV1yr1Y
No, it's just a piece of fabric. The Canadian flag doesn't have to mean anything to anyone. To many people the Canadian flag is a symbol of oppression and a reminder of genocide. It's okay to burn the flag in protest of government. Burning the flag should be protected by free speech. Canadians shouldn't be forced to take care of a piece of fabric that doesn't necessarily mean anything to them.
@9P8NRFMNew Democratic 5mos5MO
If the flag is a piece of public property, personal property of someone else, or government property, burning it would be an act of vanadalism & therefore illegal. However, if a flag is bought, it is considered private property and burning it would not violate any government polices/laws as it is the property of the individal who purchased it.
@9KMLH9M9mos9MO
It is disrespectful to burn any flag of any nation, but making it illégale is taking away freedom of speech.
@9HHPQFY12mos12MO
No in the same way you wouldn't tear down someone's house if it were painted like the Canadian flag.
@9GB6TRP1yr1Y
Yes, but only to be burned in official ceremonies where it is the just thing to do, to lay to rest a old/tarnished/damaged flag.
@9FXZGWT1yr1Y
No, Free Speech is important and we shouldn't care so much about a piece of cloth in the first place.
@9FR4Q6CRhinoceros1yr1Y
No, I don’t respect anyone who does so but they have the freedom of speech, yet a small fine should be payed.
@8S8CXC44yrs4Y
is a a piece of cloth, it doesn't really matter, its the same thing as burning a shirt
@9CGBPXC1yr1Y
No. It is simply a flag and shouldn't be viewed as anything more than an impassioned response to something.
@9BNM3KK2yrs2Y
Only if they don't own the flag
@93RS8M32yrs2Y
Yes, it could be a sign of danger
@93CSFRDNew Democratic2yrs2Y
No it’s just a piece of clothe
@8XKT3BG3yrs3Y
Yes, and it should be illegal to burn the American flag (during protest, riot) as it demonstrate violence toward the Country
@8X8B6QX3yrs3Y
Everyone is entitled to do what they please and if they want to respect or dosrespec a country
@8X452LT3yrs3Y
Everyone has been given free will, they should be allowed to choose if they want to disrespect a country or respect it
No, it's a violation of free speech, but i have no respect for anyone who does this but they have the right to do so, you unpatriotic swines!
@8W22KZS3yrs3Y
Yes, but I do not respect someone who does it.
@8VZW79Y3yrs3Y
Canada’s flag is a symbol of the country, and as such, burning should be considered as a huge crime
When Justin Trudeau is in power burn away I feel less and less Canadian each day
@8VQ78ZZ3yrs3Y
Only with respect at the end of its use
@8VPL6Y43yrs3Y
I don’t think it’s a good idea, however, it does not represent the best ideals. Colonialism took away many rights and freedoms of the indigenous people
@8VLBQP73yrs3Y
If it is done so safely then go for it.
@8VK27233yrs3Y
No, but if you’re an immigrant who came to our country for a better life, you better not be burning the flag.
@8VJJQ54New Democratic3yrs3Y
No flag cremation is a respectful way to retire a flag
@8VJDKSC3yrs3Y
Absolutely not! And I understand those who would want to burn it.
@8VJCWF83yrs3Y
It should be illegal to burn the country's flag. A prime minister who commits treason against his country should immediately be ousted from power as well.
@8VHBB7WNew Democratic3yrs3Y
DO whatever you want with the Canadian flag I don' t care. Just don't hurt the pride flag.
@8VFD2CZ3yrs3Y
Not illegal but they shouldn’t
@8VCJQH23yrs3Y
It's a flag. Burning it doesn't mean disrespect in my mind
@8VBS94D3yrs3Y
No, flag burning is an acceptable method of disposing of the flag
@8V7LPJX3yrs3Y
I served for that right of Canadians to speak and act freely as long as people don’t get hurt
@8TZCJ5H3yrs3Y
No, In the military, burning a flag is the proper way to dispose of the flag
@8TY2F6H3yrs3Y
Fines should be given out for burning a flag. Not illegal, but subject to a fine seems fair.
@8TX7JTCConservative3yrs3Y
It should be treated as treason to burn the Canadian flag in Canada, and a ban on burning other national flags out of respect
@8TWQNLMNew Democratic3yrs3Y
Occasionally as a form of protest
@8TN4GLW3yrs3Y
No, as long as it’s not illegal to burn any other flag either. However, burning the Canadian flag should be illegal if burning other flags are illegal as well.
@8T2D59H3yrs3Y
you should just get a ticket for burning any nation or religions flag.
@8SYP6BY4yrs4Y
Burning a flag is the proper way to dispose of it
@8SF43TZ4yrs4Y
If flag is worn and tattered and to be taken out of service I'm fine with flag to be burned in dignified respectful manner. However to burn in any other manner is disrespectful and should be illegal.
@8RWBJNQ4yrs4Y
It should be viewed as highly disrespectful to burn the flag, but not illegal.
Yes, but only if the flag is damaged.
@8R9YBHV4yrs4Y
It shouldn't be illegal but it is morally wrong and disrespectful
@8R854XR4yrs4Y
yes and they should go to jail and pay a fine for it
@8R7JRWT4yrs4Y
No, it's not the brightest idea too, but Canada isn't the best country ever either. At the end of the day, it's a cloth with a design on it.
@8QZ6WZT4yrs4Y
No, provided the flag belongs to them and is not destruction of property.
@8QRZKKN4yrs4Y
Yes, only if the nation is going currupt and goes against basic human rights
@8QRFD55New Democratic4yrs4Y
No, because it’s not a big deal
@8PVLS7K4yrs4Y
No, that's the proper way to dispose of a flag out of respect.
@8PH694W4yrs4Y
We are a nation in distress due to the liberal government under trudeau. Our flag should be hung upside down to indicate this
No, you probably shouldn't burn it but it also shouldn't be illegal. Why would someone burn it anyways?
@Jatzuyu4yrs4Y
Yes, burning the Canadian flag should be a sign of hate crime and treason.
@8FX3K2G4yrs4Y
It’s just cloth you can make more nothing can’t hurt Canada as a whole
@8F3K5ZC4yrs4Y
Burning is how you respectfully dispose of a flag.
@9CM6JT81yr1Y
It should be illegal in Protest and everything except the proper disposal of our flag.
@9C7V7281yr1Y
no, its just cloth it shouldn't matter.
@9BKQH722yrs2Y
yes, and it should be a criminal offence
@9BFG44M2yrs2Y
It should not be illegal but if you do that just shows how bad of a person you are
@9BC4ZR42yrs2Y
Yes, but it should be decriminalized
@9B7SW332yrs2Y
No as long as the flag is privately owned by the one burning it. It is a common expression in political frustrations.
@99MR6J32yrs2Y
Yes, unless it is in the perpetrators eyes to help Canada by using the symbolic reference of a burning flag.
@99DGP6J2yrs2Y
If you need to to survive aka if your homeless and you need to be warm so you need to create a fire then yes it's okay any other circumstances it's bad to burn it
@999DNDR2yrs2Y
What if it was accidental though?
@996HZ642yrs2Y
I personally think it's awful to burn the flag. but it shouldn't be illegal for all flags.
@9927D692yrs2Y
Yes, it represents your right to live in this country, and it should be taken as an insult
@98HDKKB2yrs2Y
Yes, it should be illegal, for any nations flag (excluding disposal of a retired / poor condition flag being replaced). That is the point of why burning a flag in protest is such a strong statement and should not be taken lightly.
@93DR7BV2yrs2Y
If it’s in public, then yes.
It is wrong but there shouldn't be strict penalties for it
@8VLS9K23yrs3Y
It’s just a cloth and dramatic
@97WSTML2yrs2Y
yes you should not burn any flag unless it is a emergency and you need to
@96B3KSF2yrs2Y
As long as it is done safely it should be legal
@968J6P92yrs2Y
Only for emergency purposes.
@966TZJF2yrs2Y
People actually consider this an issue?
@95YQB7V2yrs2Y
It shouldn't be illegal but there should be a penalty for it, a very small one
@95HJXLC2yrs2Y
@959XMKJ2yrs2Y
Yes, the burning of anything that represents people, disrespects those people
@9565ZWN2yrs2Y
no it shouldn't be, its just a piece of cloth. no big deal.
@93WL6VF2yrs2Y
I am indifferent to this issue.
Burning a flag is considered a proper way of disposing of an old flag.
@92TPFLJ3yrs3Y
Yes, but only if it touches the ground, otherwise it should be considered an expression of hate
@92GZ5LT3yrs3Y
Neither support, nor endorse
@92GZ3LZ3yrs3Y
Neither support, neither endorse
@92274HB3yrs3Y
No because it should have a pure black flag that you aren’t aloud to burn
No, as it is a military custom done out of respect towards the flag.
@8ZX3GXZConservative3yrs3Y
No, police have more important things to do than arrest flag burners.
@8ZTSR7D3yrs3Y
Proper disposal of a flag is to respectfully burn it, not simply put in the trash. Canada has flag protocols, but no laws or enforcement of those showing disrespect for our flag.
@8Z543PT3yrs3Y
No, but it is still taken as an insult
@8YYHCDN3yrs3Y
No, but only to be decomissioned
@8YNVGF33yrs3Y
Depends if they are doing it to threaten our country
@8XZC2RV3yrs3Y
@8VWGHCQ3yrs3Y
Yes, but only because burning plastic and nylon isn't environmentally safe
@8VWBJP53yrs3Y
No, but only if it's on private property.
@8VSPM4S3yrs3Y
We should change our flag to include indigenous design as an apology
Loading the political themes of users that engaged with this discussion
Loading data...
Join in on more popular conversations.