Canadians Divided on Proposal to Change National Anthem Lyrics
Key Highlights :
Canadians are divided on a proposal to change the lyrics of the national anthem, according to a new poll. The proposed resolution put forward by Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie would ask Ottawa to alter the line that reads “O Canada! Our home and native land” to “O Canada! Our home on native land.” Market research firm Leger surveyed 1,525 people online between June 7 and June 11, asking whether they support the proposal. The results indicate 33 per cent of those polled support changing the anthem, with 48 per cent opposed and 19 per cent saying they don’t know.
Support for the change was higher among younger Canadians, with 42 per cent of respondents aged 18 to 34 supporting the proposed move. Meanwhile, 53 per cent of respondents aged 35 or older said they oppose the change. The poll cannot be assigned a margin of error because online surveys are not considered truly random samples.
Juno-winning R&B singer Jully Black made the one-word change to the anthem during a performance of the NBA All-Star Game in February to acknowledge the Indigenous peoples who lived on the land before European settlers. The motion in Mississauga was put forward by the city’s mayor after Black’s performance. Mississauga city council has deferred its vote on the motion that would ask Ottawa to make the change. If passed, the City of Mississauga would send a letter to the federal government asking for the anthem lyrics to change.
Black was celebrated by the Assembly of First Nations in April for her one-word change to the lyrics of the anthem at the NBA All-Star Game. National Chief RoseAnne Archibald described Black as “a truth-teller” whose performance of the national anthem stoked a conversation.
The proposed change to the national anthem has sparked a debate across Canada about the importance of recognizing the Indigenous peoples who lived on the land before European settlers. Supporters of the proposal argue that the change is necessary to recognize the Indigenous peoples who were here first and to acknowledge the painful history of colonialism in Canada. Opponents argue that changing the anthem is unnecessary and could be seen as rewriting history.
No matter which side of the debate Canadians fall on, it is clear that the proposed change to the national anthem has stirred up strong emotions and has highlighted the importance of recognizing and honouring the Indigenous peoples of Canada. It remains to be seen whether the City of Mississauga will pass its motion to send a letter to the federal government asking for the anthem lyrics to change.
