Long live royal anthem legislation, Tories say
Push back against NDP bid to remove God Save the King legislation
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With U.S. President Donald Trump threatening Canada’s economy and sovereignty, Manitoba Tories say now is not the time to scrap legislation requiring the singing of the royal anthem in schools.
A bill introduced in March proposes the removal of God Save the King as an optional patriotic observance in schools. Bill 40 passed second reading Thursday and must go to committee, where the public will have an opportunity to comment.
The Progressive Conservatives say the government bill was rushed following a push to reinstate the singing of God Save the King in the Mountain View School Division that’s headquartered in Dauphin.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS
Progressive Conservative education critic Wayne Ewasko wants schools to retain the right to play the anthem.
Although the requirement to sing the royal anthem in schools hasn’t been enforced for decades, school divisions should still have the option to include it as part of their daily routine, PC education critic Wayne Ewasko said in a news release, noting the PCs are proposing changes.
“Our amendments will preserve the school divisions’ freedom to make decisions at the local school division level,” Ewasko said.
Premier Wab Kinew said the bill would eliminate a redundant rule and schools can still sing the royal anthem if they wish.
“This is just red tape,” Kinew said Friday at an unrelated news conference. “This is just something that nobody has observed for decades, and so we’re removing it from statute.”
“Everyone’s free to wear your monarchist pin and sing God Save the King and to gossip about (Royals) Meghan and Harry to your heart’s content,” Kinew said.
Royal traditions have tied Manitoba and the monarchy together for more than 150 years. Last November, the premier received the King Charles III Coronation Medal from Gov. Gen. Mary Simon. A month later, the premier awarded 27 Manitobans with King’s Coronation Medals to recognize their contributions to the province, country and world. This spring, Kinew travelled to Ottawa to watch the King deliver the Speech from the Throne.
“Why does Wab Kinew think now is the right time to strip the royal anthem from schools?” asked Ewasko. “Does his allegiance, patriotism, and respect for the Crown and Canadian traditions only apply when cameras are rolling?”
carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter
Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.
Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter
Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.
Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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