A maple leaf to $ 25 000

Ottawa - While the Conservative government is preparing to reduce state spending by 10%, the federal Department of Public Works has spent $ 25 000 to install a Canadian flag on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, told The Duty. The catch? There were already four others located nearby, including one about 100 meters.

Public Works has installed over the last days of a mast 15 meters next to the West Block, one of three buildings comprising the architectural complex of the Hill. The West Block is being renovated for the next six years or so, it was no longer possible to make the maple leaf floating on top of one of its towers.

"The mast in question measures 15.25 meters and meets the standards for ceremonial Parliament Hill, the Department wrote in its response. The mast will be in place for about six years and the flag of the West Block will return to the original mast once construction is complete. "

This temporary mast, brushed aluminum finish, a cost of $ 14 000. Installation, it has led to spending $ 11 000. This includes the erection of a barrier to protect a possible collision with vehicles traveling at that location. For the West Block has been closed for the duration of the renovations, the mast has been installed outside the perimeter, on the road alongside the building. Workers have installed the fence yesterday afternoon.
  The flags are not lacking on Parliament Hill. A maple leaf is already floating above the Centre Block (the one that houses the Senate and the House of Commons) and another fleet over the East Block. In addition, two permanent poles are installed, one on each side of the Centre Block, which still float as many red and white flags. One of these permanent masts is situated about 100 meters from the new.

Furthermore, when one seat at the foot of the new mast, 22 additional flags are in our field of vision on the buildings located across the street bordering the Hill. By itself, the Langevin Building housing the offices of the Prime Minister has 13, including 12 that were installed after the inauguration of Stephen Harper.

Why another flag?

The Department of Public Works explained that the installation of the mast to $ 25 000 was necessary "to ensure continuity of program delivery Canadian flags on Parliament Hill to citizens during the construction period." Is that the floating Canadian flags on Parliament Hill are changed regularly and then distributed to citizens upon request.

Thus, one floating on top of the Centre Block is changed daily Monday through Friday, except holidays, days of bad weather or on days when it is placed at half mast. They float above the buildings of West and East are replaced once a week. The waiting period to obtain a flag of the Centre Block is 35. That for those having flown over the buildings of the East or West is 23 years. With an expected life of six years of work, there were about 300 flags to distribute less if no mast replacement had been planned.

The unifoliate floating above the Centre Block measure 2.3 by 4.6 m and weighing 2.3 kg. The others are a little smaller, 1.4 to 2.8 m.

Original Article
Source: Le Devoir 
Author: Hélène Buzzetti