TORONTO — A group of notable Canadian women is launching a campaign for gender-neutral language in the English lyrics of O Canada.
The group said the change would restore Canada’s English national anthem to its original gender-neutral intentions.
The group — which includes author Margaret Atwood and former prime minister Kim Campbell — has set up a website to promote the idea.
It is calling on Canadians to join the campaign and encourage Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government to change the line “in all thy sons command” to “in all of us command.”
The campaign won’t be able to count on the official Opposition for support, however.
NDP leader Tom Mulcair said Tuesday in Ottawa that the anthem is “wonderful” and “extraordinary” as it is and shouldn’t be altered when it comes to gender.
“I think that when you start tinkering with an institution like a national anthem, that you’re looking for problems,” he said when asked about the proposal.