Proposed Changes to National Anthem of Little Benefit to Women

Do we really need a gender neutral version of Canada's national anthem? Stephen Harper apparently thinks we do. After proroguing the parliament to allow Conservatives to regroup, the suggestion to make O Canada more inclusive was revealed in the speech from the throne that opened the third session of Canada's 40^th parliament.

The announcement was given but one sentence near the end of a lengthy speech: a promise that the "Government will also ask Parliament to examine the original gender-neutral English wording of the national anthem." Aside from promises to improve conditions for aboriginal women, this is the only reference to women's needs in a speech that lays out the goals for the entire session of parliament. In other words, the only goal Stephen Harper's Conservative government has for the majority of Canada's women is to look at the possibility of changing the words of our national anthem - so we won't feel left out.

Lyric Change Not a New Idea

As the text of the speech suggests, this is not a new idea. Nor did the speech hint at the reason for exploring this issue now, when our nation is facing many more pressing concerns.

Proposals were made by the city council of Toronto in 1990, to make two changes to the lyrics of O Canada. One was that the line, "true patriot love in all thy sons command," used since 1914, be changed back to, "true patriot love in all of us command," as in the original lyrics composed by Robert Stanley Weir.

Later in 2002, Liberal Senator Vivienne Poy introduced a bill that proposed the line be instead replaced with, "true patriot love in all of us command." Poy's reasoning for the lyric change was to move towards a more inclusive anthem, in which women and men both could feel patriotic love for our country. Although her bill received strong support, it never passed. The 2003 prorogation of parliament killed the bill and it was never reintroduced. It would appear that Harper's government is looking at adopting Poy's suggested lyrics.

Lyric Change a Token Gesture: Doesn't Undo Harper's Erosion of Women's Rights

Harper's gesture of inclusiveness is no more than a token - and one that is likely to fade into nothingness with the next prorogation or federal election. Even if it does succeed, it is the mere changing of a few words in a song - nothing that compares with actions Stephen Harper has taken that have "halt[ed] the course of progress for women." ("Harper runs roughshod over women's rights")

"There has been a sharp decrease in institutional and political support by the government of Canada for the promotion and protection of the human rights of women and girls during the period 2004-2009," says a recent report on the status of women in our country. ("Women's equality has declined under Harper Tories")

Among the many complaints women have with the government's policies are: cancelling a much requested national childcare plan; doing nothing to address a widening wage gap between men and women; closing 12 of the 16 offices for the Status of Women in Canada; and, eliminating funding for a number of programs that provided advocacy and services for women. These funding cuts were made in spite of the fact that Harper's Conservatives inherited a $13 billion surplus from the previous Liberal government.

Conservatives are now faced with a tough economic environment as we await the reading of the 2010 federal budget later today.

Sources:

"Feds to tinker with 'O' Canada?'" Kathleen Harris and Bryn Weese (QMI Agency)

"Harper runs roughshod over women's rights" Murray Dobbin (Rabble.ca)

"The National Anthem Debate" The Senate of Canada

"O Canada" Wikipedia

"Speech from the Throne" Government of Canada

"Women's equality has declined under Harper Tories" National Union of Public and General Employees