Ipsos tells me that most Canadians are accepting of the Prime Minister’s use of “God Bless Canada”. I already thought about this issue from hearing United-Statesians’ use of “God Bless America” after speeches, like the name of the Irving Berlin song.

I have often said that Canadians should close their speeches with “O Canada,” which is the name of our national anthem. It is suitably open and progressive for Canadians and I predict a >90% approval rating.

Anyway this is what Didier’s people have to say about it:

When asked to consider Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s recent use of the term “God Bless Canada” at the end of all his speeches, the majority of Canadians (65%) indicate they feel this is “acceptable and he should keep doing it”. But one in four (26%) feel that this is “unacceptable and he should stop doing it”. According to a new Ipsos Reid survey conducted on behalf of CanWest News Service/Global News.

Speaking of our national anthem many people don’t know the additional verses, albeit unofficial, from the Weir poem upon which the official anthem was based. There are some choice lines like:

May stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise; To keep thee steadfast through the years; From East to Western Sea,

which is from the third stanza or this part from the second stanza:

O Canada! Where pines and maples grow. Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow.

The translation from the french version is also interesting:

O Canada! Land of our forefathers
Thy brow is wreathed with a glorious garland of flowers.
As in thy arm ready to wield the sword,
So also is it ready to carry the cross.
Thy history is an epic of the most brilliant exploits.

Thy valour steeped in faith
Will protect our homes and our rights
Will protect our homes and our rights.

That is much different in meaning than the English version. The dual message is reminiscent of the Conservative slogans during the first election of 2006. In English it was “Stand up for Canada” and in French it was “Changeons pour vrai.”

I wonder if that quarter of people would be happy if Harper ended his speeches with “God keep our land” ou “Protégerions nos foyers et nos droits.”