The Speaker of the Ontario legislature is looking into how bureaucrats made a decision to buy provincial flags made in China, instead of in the province.

New Democrat MPP Peter Kormos called the decision "shameful," "embarrassing" and "pathetic."

Members of the legislature have a budget of $1,000 a year to spend on pins and flags for groups such as the boy scouts, girl guides and various community organizations.

Kormos says the procurement office stopped buying Ontario flags from a Toronto company and outsourced them to China.

They cost $13 each when bought from the Chinese company — and about $18 when made in the province.