New rate postage stamps featuring various flowers and images of the Canadian flag over five scenes will be available in post offices as of December 19, 2005.
The 2006 flag definitives feature Canadian Maple Leaf flying over (or near) the distinctive landmarks or historical sites of five Canadian locations – New Glasgow, P.E.I.; the bridge to Le Pays de la Sagouine in Bouctouche, N.B; Lower Fort Garry, Manitoba; the wind turbines at Pincher Creek, Alberta and a dogsled in the Yukon's St. Elias range. All the flag stamps carry the 51-cent rate.
Whatever the season, Canadians can always send flowers through the mail with beautiful stamps featuring colourful images of pink bee balm blooms (Monarda didyma) (51 cents), yellow lady's slipper flowers (Cypripedium calceolus) (89 cents) or Himalayan blue poppies (Meconopsis betonicifolia) ($1.49). A fourth definitive ($1.05), featuring the fairy slipper (Calypso bulbosa) has been introduced for oversize domestic lettermail. Higher-valued definitive stamps ($2.00) will also be issued December 19, featuring images of the famed Sable Island Horse and regal Peregrine Falcon.
A special commemorative stamp celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday will be issued on January 12, 2006. As with the stamp issued celebrating the Queen's Jubilee in 2002, this special commemorative will be reprinted as needed.
