Debbie Hartlen used to sell just one Canadian flag a day at her workshop in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Now, her daily sales of flags have surged to around 300, not including her more substantial online business. President Trump’s plans to impose significant tariffs on Canadian exports are seen as a severe threat to Canadian businesses and workers. His trade warnings, combined with his repeated calls for the U.S. to annex Canada, have led to a sudden increase in demand for Canadian flags. This comes as the nation’s maple leaf flag marks its 60th anniversary. In Canada, where flag-waving is less prevalent compared to the United States, the Trump-fueled resurgence of Canadian patriotism has also boosted the flag’s image. However, displaying the Canadian flag had become less common due to its association with the 2022 protests in Ottawa. The government organized 60th birthday celebrations, which included skaters holding a giant flag down a canal in Ottawa. This year’s demand for flags is higher than usual, and companies, like L’étendard Flags and Banners, may need to hire extra workers to meet the surge. Before the current flag was adopted, Canada had struggled to establish a national flag. The Canadian Red Ensign served as the national flag for several years. Various committees had proposed thousands of designs for the Canadian flag, and the single Maple Leaf design, ultimately selected, was initially met with strong opposition. However, Canadians eventually embraced the new design.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/world/canada/canadian-flag-trump.html