The end of the 'flag flap' and a continued ban on flags in the House
Flag flap started with federalist MPs singing national anthem to drown out Bloc MP's question
There had been no surrender in the battle and thus, no waving of a white flag.
In fact, the ruling of the Speaker of the House of Commons meant there would be no flags waving at all.
"I have been challenged to show my colours as a patriotic Canadian by allowing the unfettered display of flags in the chamber," Speaker Gilbert Parent told MPs on March 16, 1998, as he prepared to deliver a ruling on the so-called flag flap that had erupted in Parliament three weeks earlier.
"But this ruling is not about the flag, it's not about the national anthem, it's not about patriotism."
'No displays will be allowed'
Parent said his ruling, which was to uphold an existing ban on props — including flags — came down to issues of order and decorum.
"No displays will be allowed and current practice will be upheld," said Parent.
The flag flap had started the previous month when Bloc Québécois MP Suzanne Tremblay tried to ask a question and ended up being drowned out by federalist MPs who sang O Canada loudly while waving miniature Canadian flags.
The controversy didn't subside and although the Speaker wanted the parties to come to a solution on their own, he ended up weighing in on the matter in the end.
'Start behaving like adults'
And like a flag that had been left out in the elements for too long, MPs' patience for putting up with the flag flap had frayed.
"Let's get serious, let's start behaving like adults around this place," said Liberal MP Don Boudria, also the Government House Leader.
New Democrat House leader Bill Blaikie said he didn't believe voters would see fit to punish him because he wasn't pushing to display a Canadian flag on his desk.
"I will take my chances with the Canadian people that my loyalty to this country is not to be called into question simply because I don't allow myself to be bullied by somebody playing 'I'm a bigger patriot than you,"' said Blaikie.
Opposition Reform MPs had vowed to call a vote on the issue the following day, though The National's Saša Petricic predicted the lack of enthusiasm on the flag issue might mean a lack of drama when that vote was called.
'Crass, cheap, political tactics'
Petricic was partially right: There was a long debate the following day, but the Reform motion to allow having flags on desks failed.
The arguments from the Reform party members remained the same arguments they had been making throughout the flag flap saga.
"If ... members join with the separatists in opposing this motion, explain to this House and to your constituents how you can possibly be trusted to stand on guard for the Canadian national interest in larger and more substantive matters," Reform Leader Preston Manning said.
But the other parties didn't agree with all the flag-waving about waving the flag.
"We will not be divided by those crass, cheap, political tactics," said New Democrat Leader Alexa McDonough.
Progressive Conservative MP Peter MacKay labelled the Reform Party's relentless pushback on the flag issue as being "a shameful attempt to derail the national agenda."
