The Bloc Quebecois is relenting on the issue of sending Canadian flags to Quebec war veterans.

But in doing so, Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe said a decision by one of his rookie MPs to initially not do so was misinterpreted and exploited politically.

"It's not a question of not providing flags,'' he told reporters outside a Parti Quebecois meeting in Montreal on Sunday.

"There is a difference, I think, between providing a service and promoting (Canada).''

MP Andre Bellevance, who represents Richmond-Athabaska, originally said he didn't wish to give flags to the Richmond, Que. legion because he felt uncomfortable promoting Canada.

He did provide a toll-free number to Heritage Canada. However, other Bloc MPs said they would have given the veterans flags.

Duceppe said his party's whip will send several flags on Monday.

Legion hall president John Hill said the Bloc's gesture was appreciated.

He said they were told that providing the flags would be in direct conflict with the Bloc's political raison d'etre -- Quebec sovereignty.

However, since the story broke on Friday, politicians have been falling over themselves to give flags to the branch of about 60 members.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Paul Martin sent the Maple Leaf that had flown atop Parliament's Peace Tower as of Friday.

He has also invited the veterans to Parliament Hill Remembrance Day ceremonies.

Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper personally delivered a dozen flags.

"It's amazing. Right now we have 30 flags. It gives us a three-year supply,'' Hill said Sunday.

Martin also invoked the Richmond veterans during a speech he delivered in Montreal on Sunday.

"I think it's quite disappointing the attitude that the Bloc took,'' Martin told reporters.

However, when asked if Harper had played politics with the issue by personally delivering flags, Martin said: "I don't think anybody should play politics with this issue.''

Hill said it wasn't about politics for his members.

"We just wanted to be able to pay respect to our veterans. We have no malice to Mr. Bellavance. He's welcome to come here for a beer any time he wants," he said.

With files from The Canadian Press