Inquiry on the National Anthem
Debates of the Senate
(Hansard)
1st Session, 37th Parliament, Vol. 139
Tuesday, February 20, 2001
Honourable Senators: I wish to draw your attention to an omission - a grave omission - in our national anthem, an anthem which serves as a potent symbol of our devotion to Canada. Unfortunately, the wording in it currently excludes more than half of the citizens of this country. I refer, of course, to the third line in the English version which reads "true patriot love in all thy sons command."
For those of you who would argue that language is of little importance, just imagine the reaction if the anthem was written to read "in all thy daughters command."
Undeniably, the national anthem is an important symbol that is part of our collective heritage. In fact, the English version of the national anthem is based on wording that dates back to 1908. It was Robert Stanley Weir, a judge in the City of Montreal, who penned the phrase "in all thy sons command," in honour of the 300th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City. The Weir version was later published in official form for the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation in 1927 and gained widespread acceptance among English speaking Canadians.
Weir reflected the times in which he lived. In writing "in all thy sons command," he described the gender relations that existed in 1908. Even though women had agitated for suffrage at the end of the 19th century, they did not have the right to vote at that time. They were primarily homemakers and mothers, and with the exception of the poor, they did not participate in the workplace. Women were not involved in politics or in the defense of the country, and they expected their husbands and sons to represent their public interests. In this sense, Weir's wording appropriately described the significance of "sons" in such a patriarchal society.
However, the suffragette movement of the early 20th century put Canadian women on the path to change. Women were granted the right to vote in federal elections on May 24, 1918. In 1921, Agnes Macphail became the first woman Member of Parliament. As we are all aware, in the Person's Case of 1929, women were declared eligible for appointment to the Senate. In the following year, Cairine Wilson became the first woman appointed as a Senator.
Between 1908 and the 1960s, the feminist movement had made great strides in Canada, but women were still largely excluded from positions of authority, both in the public and private sectors. As such, in the late1960s, when a Special Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Commons once again considered the English version of the national anthem, it recommended changes to a number of words, but did not seem perturbed by the phrase "in all thy sons command."
Since that time, I think we would all agree, gender relations in our country have been significantly altered. Women are gaining more equitable roles in relation to men in society. As of 1999, about 60% of the women in Canada worked outside of the home, making up almost 50% of the total labour force. Today's women are more educated than ever before. As a result of our education and societal change, we are increasingly occupying professional positions in both traditional and non-traditional occupations. Today, women are active members of the armed forces. In the political realm, women now make up a third of the Senate and one-fifth of the other place.
In 1980, when Bill C-36, the National Anthem Act, was discussed in Parliament, it was noted in the debates that the wording did not accurately reflect the reality of Canadian society. On June 27, 1980, when Bill C-36 passed through the other place, the Senate, and received Royal Assent the same day, there were misgivings expressed about its passage. However, the uncertainty created by the Referendum in Quebec in May, 1980 led to a desire to assert our patriotism, and shore up our national symbols. While it was widely felt that there was a need for an official anthem, assent for the National Anthem Act was attained with the understanding that the lyrics would be subject to further scrutiny and modification by a committee. The debates indicated that the Members of Parliament and Senators shelved whatever amendments and concerns they may have had about the Bill, on the assumption that changes would follow shortly after the Bill's passage.
Unfortunately, the national anthem has remained unchanged, despite much controversy over its wording. The words "thy sons" have been the primary focus of debate. Bill C-247, the first attempt to amend these words in the national anthem, was introduced in the other place in June, 1984. This was followed by Bill C-243 in June, 1985; Bill C-251 in October, 1985; Bill C-232 in October, 1986; Bill C-439 in 1993, and Bill C-264 in 1994. Although the suggested wording varied, the intent of the Members did not. Each Bill proposed a change to the words "thy sons" in the national anthem, to something more equitable for the daughters of Canada. Each document, in its turn, has been shelved and forgotten.
The Members of Parliament who tabled these Bills were not acting alone. They were acting as representatives of their constituents who had petitioned them to bring about change. Often it was schoolteachers who approached them because their female students felt left out of the national anthem. Today's young women are not aware of a time when women and men did not have equal opportunities. Should they be taught that this is a part of our heritage we wish to retain, as is suggested by some in the Parliamentary debates?
In 1982, two years after the national anthem became official, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms came into effect. This document, which is fundamental to our understanding of ourselves as a nation, ensures the equality of men and women. Whether or not one regards the reference to "thy sons" as implying male superiority, elimination of these words is more consistent with the idea of gender equality as defined in the Charter.
Canadian women have an equal desire to command "true patriot love" for our country, and to share in our national pride. This is not political correctness, as some might argue. After all, language is a reflection of society's values. We once used words to describe other races that we would now shun as disrespectful and insulting. We once had words for the disabled that we now recognize as discriminatory. Many words have changed in common usage because they imply that women do not participate fully in our society. Both the private and public sectors have taken measures to eliminate sexist language. Now Parliament must play its part.
I think we would all agree that words are important. After all, it is the words of the national anthem that make us glow with pride as we stand at attention when it is being played. However, many women I have spoken to cannot sing our anthem with pride. Their tongues trip over the third line and they grow silent.
The national anthem not only represents our own aspirations as a nation, it also defines Canada in the world. As it is played at official events overseas, such as the Olympic Games, it provides a vision of Canada to others. As such, other nations could be forgiven for assuming from the lyrics that, despite evidence to the contrary, Canada remains a patriarchal country.
In recognition of the progress women have made throughout the last century, many of us attended the historic unveiling of the Famous Five Monument here on Parliament Hill last October. The occasion was significant because women's status in Canada as an equal partner was finally officially acknowledged. As the Prime Minister so eloquently expressed in his speech at that ceremony, women are now involved in every aspect of Canadian life. But unfortunately, our national anthem does not reflect this reality.
As we approach March 8th, International Women's Day, I would argue that Parliament should not forget the contributions women have made to the growth of our nation; nor can we afford to ignore the daughters of tomorrow. We have an obligation as legislators to both acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of Canadian women, through both practical and symbolic measures.
It has been over 90 years since Robert Stanley Weir first penned the words "in all thy sons command." In the new millennium, which offers unprecedented opportunities to the daughters of Canada, it is incongruous that women are excluded from our national anthem. As Senators, I think it is our obligation to rectify this situation.
Let us join together to send a clear message to Canadians, and to other nations of the world, that Canada respects gender equality by changing the wording of the national anthem to more closely reflect the reality of our country.
Thank you.