MacKenzie Discusses National Anthem Change and Peoplekind Remark

Thursday, 8 February 2018 11:39

The MP for Oxford County admits he will likely still sing in "All Thy Sons Command" and says the "peoplekind" remarks from our Prime Minister were embarrassing for our country.

The MP for Oxford County says people in his riding are not happy with the new lyrics to our National Anthem.

The gender-neutral lyrics to ``O Canada'' changes the line ``in all thy sons command'' to ``in all of us command.'' Dave MacKenzie says he has heard from multiple constituents who are not happy with the changes.

"I am getting an awful lot of correspondents from our riding that are really opposed to it, that just don't feel it's right to change the words to the National Anthem without consulting with the public in a broader sense. It will not be an offence if you sing it in the former matter but people are not happy about it."

MacKenzie admits he will likely still sing the original lyrics.

"To be honest I would continue to sing it the original way because it is what I know best and it's kind of ingrained in my mind, so yes it is going to be difficult for people to make that change."

Mackenzie says the change is a prime example of political correctness getting a little out of hand.

"I know that some people felt that it needed to be gender neutral, but we are getting into so much political correctness, when the Prime Minister stopped that young lady at his Town Hall and said it's not mankind, it's peoplekind, it's just getting crazy, now he is trying to blow it off as being a joke but it is no joke."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did clarify his remarks on Wednesday saying the peoplekind comment was meant as a joke and was taken out of context. The remark made international headlines and was featured prominently on the Fox News morning show. MacKenzie says the comments were embarrassing for our country.

"Well it certainly brought attention to how he can be silly about things, whether he was joking or not, I don't think he was, I think he is trying to cover it up, when I see the Washington Post, newspapers in England, Piers Morgan are all making fun of him and by extension it makes fun of Canada."

Regarding the National Anthem issue, at least one of MacKenzie's constituents disagree with him. Local resident Phyl McCrum says as a 60 year old woman who has heard in all Thy Sons command her entire life, the anthem change make her feel more included in Canadian society.

"And it makes a difference to me, as a human being, as part of community, as part of society, to me this feels very progressive to be counted in as opposed to be counted out as I have always been in the anthem."