'Canada is all of us': Ailing MP Mauril Blanger makes case for change to O Canada

Mauril Blanger, the Ottawa-area MP diagnosed with ALS last fall, received a warm welcome when he appeared on the floor of the House of Commons Friday for second reading of his bill to make the national anthem gender-neutral.

But the standing ovationhe receivedwhen he was called upon to speakdidn't translate into unanimous support for his proposed change to O Canada.

Blanger'sprivate members' billwould changea line in the English version of the anthem from"in all thy sons command" to "in all of us command."

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Blangerhas lost theability to speak since hisamyotrophiclateral sclerosis(ALS)diagnosis also known as Lou Gehrig's disease and is using Speak Selection, an app on his iPad that reads out text.

"Changing only two words ... gives Canada an inclusive anthem that respects who we were and whatwe have become as a country," he said via the device.

"As Canadians, we continually test our assumptions, and indeed our symbols, for their suitability," he said. "Our anthem can reflect our roots and our growth."

He drew a comparisonto the debate over changing Canada's flag in the sixties.

Blangertold the Commons that the national anthem has been changed before. Its original English lyrics were gender-neutral, he said: "thou dost in us command."

"Canada isall of us, not some of us," he told MPs gathered around to hear his words.

He said the song's reference to "sons" was addedin 1913, prior to World War One, when the assumption of the day was that only sons would be inbattle. In fact, both sexes served, he said.

Blanger satin a wheelchair,in the accessiblelocation on the Commons floor normally used by Veterans Affairs MinisterKent Hehr.

Minister and medical doctor Carolyn Bennett sat to his right, with an assistant helping him with his device on his left.

Blanger said he was looking forward to a non-partisan debate. He smiled and gave a thumbs-up sign as MPs gave him a second standing ovation at the end of his remarks.

More MPs were present than is typical for debate on a private member's bill on a Friday afternoon.

Earlier attempt failed

Blanger introduced a similar bill in the last session of Parliament, but it was defeated 144-127. This time, he said he believes Canada is ready to make the change, citing support he's received from across the country and an opinion poll in favour.

Choirs and other Canadians are already singing the new lyrics, he said.

Some MPs in the House of Commons sanghis proposed lyric in March whenhe servedas honorary Speakerfor a day. Friday was his first day back in the House since then.

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In an April 13note to his Facebook followers he revealed he had been hospitalized.

"The reason I have not been out and about lately is because of a bad reaction to new medication and interaction between medications that have landed me in hospital. I am however hopeful in saying 'good bye' to the hospital sooner than later," he wrote.

Blangerwas brought into CentreBlockon a stretcher after travelling to Parliament Hill by ambulance.

ConservativeSenator Nancy Ruth, who lobbied the previous Conservative unsuccessfully to change the anthem, was in the Commons gallery to watch the debate. Former Liberal MP Bob Rae was also there, sitting beside Blanger's wife Catherine.

Some Tories opposed

The bill hasto pass through all stages in both the House and Senate to become law.Relatively few private members' bills pass. The process can be lengthy without unanimous support.

While calling Blanger"a beacon of inspiration" and praisinghis intentions, the first MP to speak in the debate said that he was opposed to the change.

"Rewriting the lyrics of our national anthem in the name of political correctness would gotoo far," Conservative LarryMaguiresaid. "No one Italkto believesthis change is necessary. People do not think our national anthem isbroken."

Maguire mentioned that the former government dropped its plans to change the anthem "after listening to Canadianswho thought theidea was offside." Other proposals to change it have failed in the Commons, he recalled.

Blanger'ssuggestion of non-partisanship lapsed whenNew Democrat Sheila Malcolmsoncounteredby saying she was "ashamed" to hear Maguire'swords "after ten years of the former government slashing and burning women's programs." She was met with applause.

She then went througha list of reasons to support the bill, even breaking into song to sing the new lyric.

Not sexist?

Conservative Peter Van Loan, speaking next, said thebill will be a free vote for Conservative MPs.

His colleague Karen Vecchiosaid that her party supports women, but this bill's "gesture" is not about creating opportunities for women. She read out feedback she receivedfrom people in her riding that want the anthem left as-is.

"I do not believe the anthem is sexist," Conservative Kelly Block said. "And any student of history knows this."

She called the 1913 lyric change that added "sons"a "proud reference toCanada's historyand the first time that Canada fought as an independent nation and won at Vimy Ridge."

O Canadawas approved as the national anthem in March1967, supplanting God Save the Queen(which is still recognized as the royal anthem of Canada.)

The current English lyrics whichhave hadseveralchanges sinceoriginally penned byRobert Stanley Weir in 1908 wereadoptedin June 1980.

'He risks not being here'

An attempt by Liberal Greg Fergusto get unanimous consent for the debate to continue past its scheduled first hour failed. The next opportunity for debate on the bill may not beuntil next fall.

Fergus told CBC News he was "more than disappointed" that some Conservatives blocked hisattempt to speed the bill's passage, calling it "unacceptable and disgusting" to slow somethingLiberals and New Democrats support strongly. Some Conservatives support it, he added.

Because of Blanger's declining health, "he risks not being here. Everyone knows that," his longtime friend said, wondering why the Conservatives wouldn't want to give him the chance to see his bill voted on.

"I'm certain they're going to look back on this and realize they made the wrong choice," he said.

Blanger was required to be in the House Friday for the first hour of debate on the bill. Having accomplished that, the bill can now go forward.

Dedication on Parliament Hill

8 years ago

Duration 1:45

MP Mauril Belanger's private member's bill would make O Canada gender neutral