Flags purchased for politicians to be made in Canada

TORONTO - Ontario and Canadian flags purchased for politicians must now be made in Canada and preferably in the province.

Members of the Ontario legislature each have a $1,000 annual budget to hand out flags and lapel pins to constituents.

The opposition was fuming this week after learning the procurement office was buying Ontario flags from China.

The flags cost $13 each when bought from the Chinese company, about $5 cheaper than Ontario-made flags.

Speaker Steve Peters has issued a directive stating all Ontario and Canadian flags bought for members must manufactured in Ontario, and failing that at least in Canada.

The NDP called the decision to outsource the flags to China shameful, embarrassing and pathetic.