Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expressed “openness” to the possibility of changing the lyrics of Canada's national anthem O Canada. . Canada flagCanadian flag .However, Trudeau said any changes would only be made after thorough consultation with Canadians..There is an increasing demand to modify the phrase “home and native land” to “home on native land” following Canadian singer Jully Black’s version using the “home on native land” phrase during her performance of O Canada at the 2023 NBA All-Star game..In response to the changed lyrics, the Assembly of First Nations recognized and commended Black for her alteration..Bonnie Crombie, the mayor of Mississauga, has supported altering the lyrics. Crombie, a former Liberal MP and contender for the Ontario Liberal leadership, believes in the need for the change..Crombie submitted a motion to the Mississauga City Council (MCC), urging Ottawa to implement the change. .However, the MCC decided to postpone the decision for the time being..Trudeau expressed an interest in hearing the viewpoints of Canadians on a possible change..“I look forward to talking with indigenous Canadians about how they feel the anthem could or might change. I want to talk with a lot of Canadians,” Trudeau said in a Canada Day interview with the CBC..“It's not any government's anthem. It's Canadians' anthem.”.In 1980, O Canada was officially designated as Canada's national anthem, a century after its initial composition by musician Calixa Lavallée. .The French lyrics were written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier and served as the foundation for various English adaptations of the song, including the version by Robert Stanley Weir that eventually became the official version..In 2018, the government made a modification to the lyrics of the national anthem. Parliament passed a bill that changed the line “True patriot love in all thy sons command” to “True patriot love in all of us command.”.On Saturday, Trudeau did not make any specific commitments regarding changes to the lyrics..“I'm open to the changes that Canadians want to see,” said Trudeau.
