Straight Talk

Stephen Harper government says sexist lyrics will stay in anthem "O Canada"

by Stephen Hui on March 5th, 2010 at 3:38 PM
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      After riling up plenty of Canadians by floating the idea of removing sexist lyrics from "O Canada", the Stephen Harper government has slammed the door shut on making the anthem gender-neutral.

      "We offered to hear from Canadians on this issue and they have already spoken loud and clear. They overwhelmingly do not want to open the issue," Dimitri Soudas, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, said today (March 5), according to CBC News. "The government will not proceed any further to change our national anthem."

      The promise to consider revising the anthem was buried in the Conservative government's post-prorogation throne speech on March 3.

      "Our Government will also ask Parliament to examine the original gender-neutral English wording of the national anthem," the throne speech said.

      "O Canada" became Canada's national anthem in 1980.

      You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.

      See also: Let's get serious about updating "O Canada"

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      Comments

      15 Comments

      Assmandr

      Mar 5, 2010 at 5:06pm

      The whole idea of changing the lyrics of O Canada is silly anyway.

      Jerry Slag

      Mar 5, 2010 at 5:07pm

      Are we really this stupid? They had no intention to change the Anthem, this is just to distract you while they persue their agenda, you know, help the oil companies out, sell the media to foreign corporations, dismantle profitable crown corporations (ie Canada Post) and work hard to make sure themiddle class doesn't get in the way of the wealthy.....

      Dick Van Dyke

      Mar 5, 2010 at 5:40pm

      Just another case of a minority taking advantage of our ludicrous Liberal laws. In this case it's feminists, lesbians, and manhaters.

      bev

      Mar 5, 2010 at 5:41pm

      We just sang this song daily at the top of our lungs for the last 2 weeks here in canada, I even found myself singing it alone walking down the street. So I say don't mess with our Oh Canada, leave it be. And if they think this has taken my eye of their nasty budget, they can think again, but I don't think they are that good at thinking of anyone other than the rich. eh?

      Vixen

      Mar 5, 2010 at 8:39pm

      Oh my God!! Do people not have anything better than to nit pick about every little thing? Our Anthem should stay as is!!!

      Terry

      Mar 5, 2010 at 9:23pm

      Yup, Harper and his Conservative cronies are definately a bunch of manhaters. Every one of their policies shows this. Amazing the mysogynists that have crawled out of their caves lately.

      Petey J

      Mar 6, 2010 at 3:02am

      I love the Star Spangled Banner why change it ?
      Thank You Queen Jean Michelle for saying no to Harpo

      Stephen,

      Mar 6, 2010 at 6:48am

      Just how badly are you trying to get laid? lol

      The idea was pitched, some miserable appointed hag took credit for it, and the country as a whole rejected it.

      Calling the lyrics "sexist" doesn't buy you any favours. If anything, it makes you look as desperate as the useless man AND women-hating feminists that support the idea.

      Just my 2cents :)

      Morty

      Mar 6, 2010 at 11:54am

      It was a distraction, pure and simple. Have you noticed how nobody's talking about the budget, even though it's going to have a much bigger effect on the future of the country than the lyrics to "O Canada"?

      Birdy

      Mar 6, 2010 at 2:54pm

      I wonder what the North American Union anthem will sound like.

      I vote for bagpipes + Bjork