Photo by Ian Muttoo

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Did I hear correct? In the Throne Speech the Conservative government announced it wants to review the words to O Canada to make it gender neutral? Really? Now, I am all for political correctness, equal rights and everything that entails but seriously, is anyone really offended by the words to our national anthem?

Honestly, as far as distractions go it’s not a bad move by the government not wanting to face the real issues that are challenging the country. Who will want to discuss the treatment of detainees in Afghanistan, a six week proroguement of parliament, the deletion of gay rights from the citizenship guide, the massive budget deficit or anything else when you can discuss the hot button issue of changing the national anthem?

For the last two weeks O Canada was sung 14 times using the lyrics in all they sons command when our athletes won gold medals at the Vancouver 2010 olympic games. Men and women spontaneously broke out into song several times during the two week period and I didn’t hear one person complain when they were done.

And the proposed change doesn’t make sense to return to the original poem version of true patriot love thou dost in us command. They had people try to sing it on the CBC News tonight and everyone stumbled. But then again, why should I be surprised. This government wants to turn back time on many things, right Jason Kenney.