Since Confederation, the Canadian national flag had been the British Union Jack - a symbol of Canada's former colonial status. The Red Ensign - a modified version of the flag of the British ...

wanted to keep the Red Ensign, which prominently featured the Union Jack, because it was a nod to Canada's British roots but also because troops fought and died under that flag in nation-defining ...

Although the rules were drawn up long after Canada settled upon its flag in 1965 ... the Red Ensign, broke this rule with abandon. It contains five colours: red, white, blue, yellow and black.