Canadians deserve an Anthem that reflects who we and our families are, that can be sung with sincerity.

Much has changed since 1908, when the lyrics to the English version were written by Judge Robert Stanley Weir. It takes just a few tweaks to bring both the English and French versions into the 21-st Century!

A phrase like"Home and Native land" (or "terre de nos aieux") alienates millions of Canadians who call Canada home but whose native land is elsewhere. The suggestion "Home ON native land" is provocative, and Indigenous Canadians don't want to be called Natives, and some consider the anthem to be an irrelevant colonial song.

In both the English and French versions there is a specific reference to God and religion ("God keep our land" and "Il sait porter la croix", in a country where 30% of citizens claim to have NO religion. If "Le Marseillaise" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" or even Israel's "Hatikvah" don't mention God or Christianity, why should O Canada?

Here is one example of an alternate wording. It is by no means final, a Francophone poet or two might craft a better version:

O Canada/ our home on sacred land. (alludes to Indigenous values). True patriot love/ In all our hearts command! / With glowing eyes we see thee rise (can't use hearts twice, plus everyone knows that eyes glow with pride) The True North strong and Free/ From far and wide, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee! Come, build a land, glorious and free * (an invitation to immigrants and stresses that a glorious and free Canada is a work-in-progress) O Canada We stand on guard for thee, O Canada we stand on guard for thee!

For "sacred" there are alternate words, like "cherished", but "sacred" has the same vowel assonance as "native".

Instead of "Come, build a land" one poet suggested "Help keep our land".

Armed with just high-school French, my preliminary tweaks include O Canada/ Terre de nos ciels bleus, and to replace la croix, Car ton bras connait dur travail/ Il sait apporter de la joie!  (as in joie de vivre, a trademark value of the Quebecois!

The proof of any Anthem change is in the singing, so try singing aloud any modifications that you suggest.  Add your suggestions to the Comments section. The closer the tweaks are  to the original in rhythm and rhyme, the better the chance of it being accepted by Parliament.

By signing this, you are endorsing the need for change! PLEASE provide your postal code and email address where you can be reached by the clerk of petitions to verify that you signed.