Rank decisions

The Cons' full flag-lowering protocol has now gone public, and it's interesting to note just how much the Cons appear to think the Canadian public will value the lives of different people:

"Given that such flags are recognized as paramount symbols of their nations, the act of half-masting is a dramatic visual statement that speaks to the sense of loss that is shared by all their citizens," state the new rules...

The new protocol effectively limits full half-masting honours to the Queen, her immediate family and her representatives in Canada, sitting and former prime ministers, sitting cabinet ministers and the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Privy councillors, sitting MPs, sitting senators and top foreign diplomats get the Peace Tower flag lowered only on the day of their funeral, rather than from the time of notification of death until the service...

The Canadian Heritage website noted that the Peace Tower flag was lowered to half-mast on Monday morning, from 9 a.m. to noon, "to honour former parliamentarians who passed away in the last year."

There are also special days honouring workers killed on the job, police and peace officers killed on duty, Remembrance Day, violence against women and Vimy Ridge day.

The prime minister maintains broad discretionary power to have the Peace Tower flag lowered "in exceptional circumstances," say the new rules, including the deaths of foreign leaders, prominent citizens at home or abroad, and federal employees.

In other words, the Cons apparently consider the loss to Canadians as follows. If Bev Oda has a fatal allergic reaction to caviar at a CRIA fund-raising dinner, the protocol will reflect a greater loss than if every MP in Parliament aside from the current Cabinet and ex-PMPM were to perish at once. And if Maurice Vellacott chokes on his own bile, the Cons figure the country should mourn that event more personally than if Canada's entire military contingent in Afghanistan is wiped out by a surprise attack.

Of course, there's always the PM's discretion. But then, we know that the Cons have no tolerance for ad hoc decisions. So if you want to hold your breath waiting for the PM to take such an action, at least do so at work so you can share in one of the days seen as worthy of mourning.