'Home on native land:' A new push to change O Canada's lyrics
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie hopes the city will support calling on the federal government to change the lyrics of “O Canada.”
In February, Canadian R&B singer Jully Black performed the national anthem at an NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah. During the performance, she swapped out one word for another – altering the lyrics from “our home and native land” to “our home on native land.”
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
The new lyric drew a largely positive reaction on social media, as well as some criticism. Black was later honoured at an AFN Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa for the decision.
“I was personally moved by Jully Black's rendition,” Crombie told CTV News on Tuesday. “I think this is a small effort to address our country's very dark history.”
At Wednesday’s city council meeting, Mississauga representatives will vote on whether they support a permanent lyric change based on the performance, which Crombie—who proposed the motion—described “as an Act of Reconciliation and a speaking of the truth.”
The single word change “had a ripple effect across the country,” the motion reads, and was “hailed by Indigenous Peoples across Canada.”
“I'm hopeful that this sparks a conversation as we enter national Indigenous month about the meaningful actions that we can take as a city, as a province, as a country, to advance reconciliation with our First Nations, with our Indigenous communities,” Crombie said.
If passed, the city will write a letter to the federal government to formally adopt the lyric change “to reflect the spirit and intent of the Treaties which allowed for the creation of the City of Mississauga and all of Canada.”
The letter will also be shared with Ontario Big City Mayors.
In 2018, the federal government changed the lyrics to “O Canada” so that it was gender neutral.
Instead of “in all thy sons command,” the English version of the anthem now reads “in all of us command.”
With files from CTV News’ Adrian Ghobrial
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Florida deputies who fatally shot U.S. airman burst into wrong apartment, attorney says
Deputies responding to a disturbance call at a Florida apartment complex burst into the wrong unit and fatally shot a Black U.S. Air Force airman who was home alone when they saw he was armed with a gun, an attorney for the man's family said Wednesday.