Come 1945, King began a second attempt with a joint committee of the Senate and House of Commons. Archer Fortescue Duguid, director of the Historical Section of the Canadian Army, pointed out that the redesign should include red and white - Canada’s national colours since 1921. He also reminded the committee of Canada’s emblem: three maple leaves connected by one stem, as featured on the base of Canada’s shield. The Committee received close to 2,400 designs and did settle on a final recommendation. However, the project was ultimately abandoned once again due to the fear that it might lead to political dissent. Canadians had fought and died under both the Union Jack and the Canadian Red Ensign and many were still attached to these emblems and to their British heritage. The Canadian Government consequently chose to keep the Union Jack as the official national flag and to fly the Red Ensign from government buildings.
During the two World Wars, the Red Ensign was admired as a patriotic symbol. However, at the end of the First World War and once again after the Second, the Government of Canada discussed the importance of adopting a flag that was uniquely Canadian. In 1925, William Lyon Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada, was the first to attempt redesigning the flag. He assembled a committee to study the task but almost immediately backed down due to the negative reception of his challenge against the Union Jack.
1925