New Twist on the Flag Flap

Following Question Period on Thursday, Winnipeg-Centre NDP member of parliament, Pat Martin, rose on a question of privilege requesting that the Speaker of the House consider a rule in place that apparently gives the Speaker, not the government, the authority to decide what occurs with the physical structures on the hill. This may have an impact on the recent decision by the Conservative government not to fly the flags on the hill at half-mast when our soldiers perish in the Afghanistan conflict.

I have contacted Mr Martin to further clarify this issue since I don't yet have access to today's Hansard which would have the text of Martin's claims.

Predictably, the Conservatives simply laughed this off, but the Speaker has taken up the question and will provide a ruling.