As the House of Commons creeps closer to passing a bill that would change 鈥極 Canada鈥� to make Canada鈥檚 national anthem more gender-neutral, the terminally-ill MP who proposed the motion was serenaded with the new lyrics.
Mauril Belanger was at Ottawa鈥檚 annual Walk for ALS on Saturday when a crowd broke out into the version of the anthem he championed, swapping 鈥淚n all thy son鈥檚 command鈥� for 鈥淚n all of us command.鈥�
It鈥檚 those two words Belanger is fighting to change -- a small switch that the Liberals say would make the anthem more inclusive for women.
For the ailing MP, hearing the anthem on Saturday was likely a heartfelt moment, particularly considering the uncertainty as to whether he鈥檒l live to see his proposal pass.
Belanger鈥檚 private member鈥檚 bill hasn鈥檛 gained traction among most Conservative MPs, who have accused the Liberals of using Belanger鈥檚 ALS diagnosis to jam through what they consider a significant change to Canadian heritage.
The Conservatives have taken steps to slow down the passage of Bill C-210, including the rejection of two procedural motions in May that would have sped up the process so that Belanger could see the lyric change before he dies.
Still, widespread support from the Liberals, NDP and Green Party member Elizabeth May is expected to give the motion the lift it needs to pass a third reading in the House on Wednesday. The bill will then move on to the Senate.
It鈥檚 unclear whether Belanger will live to see the anthem change. His mobility has rapidly deteriorated since he was diagnosed with ALS last fall, and he now uses a wheelchair.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig鈥檚 disease, is a terminal disease that kills most patients within two to five years.
With files from CTV Ottawa
