Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

A third of Canadians support changing anthem to say 'our home on native land': poll

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Jun, 2023 12:44 PM
  • A third of Canadians support changing anthem to say 'our home on native land': poll

A new poll suggests only a third of Canadians support a proposal from Mississauga, Ont., to ask the federal government to change the lyrics of the national anthem. 

The proposed resolution put forward by Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie would – if passed by council – ask Ottawa to alter the line that reads "O Canada! Our home and native land” to “O Canada! Our home on native land."

Market research firm Leger surveyed 1,525 people online between June 7 and June 11, asking whether they support the proposal. 

The results indicate 33 per cent of those polled support changing the anthem, with 48 per cent opposed, and 19 per cent saying they don't know. 

Support for the change was higher among younger Canadians, with 42 per cent of respondents aged 18 to 34 supporting the proposed move.

Meanwhile, 53 per cent of respondents aged 35 or older said they oppose the change.

The poll cannot be assigned a margin of error because online surveys are not considered truly random samples.

Juno-winning R&B singer Jully Black made the one-word change to the anthem during a performance of the NBA All-Star Game in February, to acknowledge the Indigenous peoples who lived on the land before European settlers. 

The motion in Mississauga was put forward by the city's mayor after Black's performance. 

Mississauga city council has deferred its vote on the motion that would ask Ottawa to make the change.

If passed, the City of Mississauga would send a letter to the federal government asking for the anthem lyrics to change. 

Black was celebrated by the Assembly of First Nations in April for her one-word change to the lyrics of the anthem at the NBA All-Star Game.

National Chief RoseAnne Archibald described Black as "a truth-teller'' whose performance of the national anthem stoked a conversation.

MORE National ARTICLES

Sudan crisis: Canada to match $5 million in donations

Sudan crisis: Canada to match $5 million in donations
In mid-April, brazen violence broke out between Sudan's military and its paramilitary force, turning the capital of Khartoum into a war zone from which Canada and other nations evacuated their citizens.  

Sudan crisis: Canada to match $5 million in donations

Wildfire risk remains well above average across Canada this month

Wildfire risk remains well above average across Canada this month
An area of land 11 times bigger than the city of Toronto burned from wildfires in the last four days — Canada's worst spring wildfire season to date. Another 389 fires were recorded since June 1, and as of Monday morning there were 413 active fires underway, with the risk having spread to more provinces over the weekend.

Wildfire risk remains well above average across Canada this month

B.C.'s Eby says Asia trade mission aims to reduce risks amid international unease

B.C.'s Eby says Asia trade mission aims to reduce risks amid international unease
The premier and his delegation have not visited China, B.C.’s second largest trade partner, during the two−week trip but instead focused on Japan, South Korea and Singapore and have met, so far, with a range of businesses including a large Japanese rental housing company looking to break into the Canadian market.

B.C.'s Eby says Asia trade mission aims to reduce risks amid international unease

Man drowns in North Vancouver lake

Man drowns in North Vancouver lake
Firefighters say they were called to the lake around 3:30 p-m and though bystanders and emergency responders performed C-P-R on the man, he did not survive. North Vancouver Assistant Fire Chief Dwayne Derban says the lake is mostly for fishing and not for swimming.  

Man drowns in North Vancouver lake

Trudeau raises Poland's democratic backsliding as prime minister visits Toronto

Trudeau raises Poland's democratic backsliding as prime minister visits Toronto
The visit comes amid unprecedented economic and military collaboration between the two countries. On Monday, the U.S. State Department expressed concern over a new law "that could be misused to interfere with Poland's free and fair elections."

Trudeau raises Poland's democratic backsliding as prime minister visits Toronto

Feds open to cutting plastic production but global agreement will be hard: Guilbeault

Feds open to cutting plastic production but global agreement will be hard: Guilbeault
At the United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022, 175 nations agreed to launch talks to create a global plastics treaty to eliminate plastic waste by the end of 2024. There are three more rounds of talks guaranteed before then, and Guilbeault said Canada is going to host the next round about a year from now.

Feds open to cutting plastic production but global agreement will be hard: Guilbeault