MPs sing new version of O Canada as gender-neutral anthem lyrics become official
OTTAWA — Members of Parliament broke into applause Wednesday after singing the new, gender-neutral lyrics to O Canada in the House of Commons, just hours after the change became law.
The new wording became official earlier in the day, capping off a years-long effort to make the anthem more inclusive that was spearheaded by late Liberal MP Mauril Belanger.
It changes the second line of the anthem’s English version to “in all of us command” from “in all thy sons command.”
Belanger died two years ago after being diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease.