This Canada day we might be singing a different tune as the Senate decides whether or not to pass the private members bill to change the lyrics to the national anthem.
The bill, put forward by Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger, proposes to change the verse “in all thy sons command” to “in all of us command”. The bill passed its final reading in the House of Commons with 225 votes for and 74 against.
“Although I understand the points being made by people pushing to see the lyrics changed, the idea obviously that it would make it gender neutral. I would argue that the anthem as it exists is already gender neutral, the way it’s written now,” said Conservative MP for Banff-Airdrie Blake Richards.
Richards voted against the bill each time it was addressed in the House of Commons. He said he heard from many of his constituents who were against the change.
“We as Legion members are apolitical under our mandate. Myself, personally, I like things as they are – I have certain beliefs and traditions. I’m an older person so for me, even though I went through feminism and women’s liberation and all those kinds of things, there are certain traditional things that I like to see,” said Darla Gullons, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 15.
It can be argued the national anthem is sung most at Cochrane’s Royal Canadian Legion. Gullons said she and the other legion members will sing the anthem however they are told but she thinks others will stick to singing the anthem with the lyrics they were taught.
Residents of Cochrane seem to be on both sides of the debate – some residents believe the change is a step toward equality while others view it as an unnecessary change to a tradition.
“I’m kind of against the anthem change, I think it should be left as it is. I don’t think there’s any need for it – we use “mankind” and we use “humankind,” said one resident who preferred to remain anonymous.
“I think moving towards a gender-equal society is important. Doing something like that, I think it’s minor but I think it might make a small difference just having that show of faith,” said Stephane Dorotich.
“I think the change is great. And I’m also very stoked for them to take out the God-aspect in the anthem as well,” said Lauren Grose.
“I like it the old way … I wouldn’t want to change my way of singing it, even if they did change it,” said Cheryl Clazie.
