What are people in Victoria’s thoughts on this?

[u/BikeMeCoffee]

I’m an old fart and didn’t realize this ever stopped. Great to encourage pride in Canada but don’t we have more pressing matters to attend to?

[u/ALovelyDisaronno]

I think basically every school already has a Canadian flag flying?

[u/phoenixdescending → u/ALovelyDisaronno]

The point of the flags is they'll word it like Alberta's law - as in, nothing but the Canadian and BC flags will be allowed to be flown.

[u/viccityguy2k → u/ALovelyDisaronno]

The flag thing is a nothing burger. I don’t have a problem with the policy being a public school should be flying the Canadian flag and not any other flag unless there are other flag poles. As for hung flags elsewhere inside and out that’s a district or school decision IMO.

Mandating the frequency of the national anthem is an overreach and completely unnecessary.Districts and schools can manage that.

[u/blumpkinpandemic]

Flags, sure. Singing? Waste of time. We used to do it only at assemblies (from 1990 to 2002) which was enough lol

[u/alchemistzym → u/blumpkinpandemic]

Did it every day from Primary to grade 12 in Nova Scotia in the 80’s.

Current patriotism level: Meh, whatever.

I mean, I’m grateful to be here, but it was an accident of my birth. I certainly don’t feel superior about it.

Anyway making kids sing the anthem is stupid, pointless theatrics. You want to instil “pride” or whatever ? Go make them pick up trash for 15 minutes, or tidy the classroom or something useful like that.

[u/Cidlicious → u/alchemistzym]

Agreed. What really drives pride in our country is being part of the community and participating in the community.

[u/NorthlandSir → u/alchemistzym]

I mean you want to instill pride, have a country whose accomplishments are worth being proud of. Fully fund and nationalize health care. End homelessness. Fight poverty, not poor people. Then I'll be proud of Canada. Otherwise, it's just where I was born. A good, but flawed nation, that overall is still heading in the wrong direction and leaving its own people behind for the sake of the pursuit of profit. I'm grateful I was born here, but I'm not proud.

[u/pharoh-king → u/alchemistzym]

You want to instil “pride” or whatever

If you want to instill pride you teach the bad things your country has done, and then teach the things your country has done to right those bad things.

That's where pride comes from.

[u/ekso69 → u/alchemistzym]

Same in Ontario. It was just sorta a thing, no one asked questions.

[u/beast_mel → u/alchemistzym]

I was going to say on the east coast we did it through the 80's. Alternating French and English. To this day I still know it in French better than English.

[u/poolbitch1 → u/blumpkinpandemic]

My little elementary school got a PA system in 1995 and they used to play the national anthem over it every morning. 

Looking back I think part of it was just the novelty. 

[u/DearAuntAgnes → u/blumpkinpandemic]

I’m old enough to remember having to sing O’Canada and recite The Lord’s Prayer before class in PUBLIC school.

[u/Pleasant_Reward1203 → u/DearAuntAgnes]

lol I remember back at those days and weird out at the fact that I used to have to do that.

[u/Windsdochange → u/DearAuntAgnes]

In early elementary, we said the Our Father, but didn’t sing the anthem, but that ended around grade 1 or 2 for me. Reading through the comments, seems there were a variety of experiences…almost like each community established its own priorities gasp

[u/Naph923 → u/DearAuntAgnes]

Yes! We are not religious but my kids always look at me weird when I know the words to the Lord's Prayer...because we had to recite it every day. Crazy!

[u/thebbtrev → u/blumpkinpandemic]

I agree with you completely. Requiring this in classroom whether daily or weekly is just a waste of time and money.

Conservatives run around screaming about culture wars, but they seem to be the only ones participating in the war.

[u/ZGPJ → u/blumpkinpandemic]

Wait do people not sing O Canada every morning in school regularly? I’m in Toronto and every TDSB school does the anthem every morning

[u/Nixon4Prez → u/ZGPJ]

yeah i.grew up in NS and didn't realize everyone didn't grow up singing it every morning until I moved out here!

[u/Braysl-March → u/ZGPJ]

Yeah I'm in Ontario too and we sang it every morning (but not at assemblies haha)

[u/millijuna → u/ZGPJ]

Child of the 80s here that grew up in BC... O Canada was only sung at certain assemblies (I mostly remember it for Remembrance Day)

[u/Minute_Pollution_843 → u/ZGPJ]

I'm in NB and they play it everyday too.

[u/Names_are_limited → u/blumpkinpandemic]

Belting it out every day seems kinda weird to me. Having students recite patriotic lyrics before they can critically evaluate them is rote indoctrination. As a civil libertarian I’m against this.

[u/bemorr → u/Names_are_limited]

The same people who are against sogi because it is indoctrination are for this because forced nationalism is good

[u/Pooks23 → u/Names_are_limited]

Critical thinking is a dying art, so this is on brand.

[u/Chance_Adeptness_832 → u/Pooks23]

It's dying because they're killing it

[u/Champagne_of_piss]

Don't the conservatives call this "virtue signaling"?

[u/gunawa → u/Champagne_of_piss]

Only when someone else does it

[u/TheGriffin → u/Champagne_of_piss]

If cons didnt have double standards, they'd have no standards at all

[u/AFFORDABLE_HOME → u/Champagne_of_piss]

It's 100% virtue signalling and also super pointless. They complained about "wokeness" being a cult and yet this is actual cultish behaviour. Schools already typically do fly the BC flag just switch it out for other flags when there's something else going on like who cares, it doesn't negatively affect us not to have that crime against vexillology up there 24/7.

The loudest complainers are often projection though and this is really showing it. For a party that said they were able u common sense and fiscal responsibility they have so far to detailed ideas that are going to cost way more than they claim and petty virtue signalling ideas.

[u/farglesnuff]

The flags flying is great and I support that, but the anthem every day? Every school wide assembly sure, but every day is just a waste of time and feels like some veiled culture war bullshit.

[u/gunawa → u/farglesnuff]

I can't think of any school that doesn't already fly both flags everyday

[u/FartMongerGoku69 → u/gunawa]

The law will be worded like Alberta's, meaning they basically won't be able to fly anything else. It's meant to target things like pride flags.

[u/DavieStBaconStan → u/FartMongerGoku69]

Pride flags, then GSA and SOGI.

BC conservatives are snowflakes.

[u/pm_me_your_puppeh → u/gunawa]

It's a prelude to banning pride flags.

[u/FartMongerGoku69 → u/pm_me_your_puppeh]

Not a prelude, that's what it will be.

[u/lobenzola112 → u/gunawa]

Exactly. This already exists.

[u/CoupleOk5628 → u/farglesnuff]

In ontario we have that and you know it kinda felt normal. I went to a french schoô so I heart the french lyrics everyday

[u/bezkyl → u/farglesnuff]

It’s not a veiled anything… the next 4 years are a culture war, all of their policies are doomed to fail because they are entirely ideologically driven

[u/ConferenceTime → u/bezkyl]

And reactionary.

[u/fanglazy → u/farglesnuff]

It’s 1.7 years of teaching time a day for 700,000 kids to sing the national anthem.

[u/MaxDragonMan → u/farglesnuff]

At my elementary school growing up you'd sing the anthem once a week and that's it, and even that was phased out over time. It was awkward because by the time I got to six or seventh grade really nobody was singing in the class anymore, while the music still played over the PA.

[u/Frater_Ankara → u/farglesnuff]

Exactly this. It’s performative, fake patriotic nonsense.

[u/panelshowatcher]

Nice to see he’s prioritizing the most pressing issues. /s

[u/poolbitch1 → u/panelshowatcher]

While I assure you behind the scenes they are slashing funding to departments like special ed. 

Violence against EAs and staff in BC schools has risen 92% in the last 6 years. Watch for it to get worse going forward as inclusion continues to be replaced by abandonment.

[u/islandpancakes → u/poolbitch1]

Time to bring back alternative classrooms and larger correspondence programs. Won't be cheap though so it probably won't happen.

[u/poolbitch1 → u/islandpancakes]

Time to increase funding for those programs to be put in place, and you are absolutely right 

[u/islandpancakes → u/poolbitch1]

I have taught everything from grade 1 to 7. I love my job and I love my students, but it's time to let go of the current inclusion model and accept that it has failed. But it will be a generational investment to rebuild our public education system

[u/PirateCrimeBrulee → u/islandpancakes]

The problem with the inclusion model (as well as other models meant for inclusion and harm reduction) is that it only works if sufficient time and resources are provided in the process. Having one teacher (and one aide if you’re lucky) wrangling a bunch of kids with a variety of needs is a disaster that isn’t the fault of the kids or the teachers😔

It feels like many progressive efforts are very incomplete in practice and (while I want to believe they are well intentioned) serve as more of a performative band-aid that an actual working solution.

[u/microwaved__soap → u/PirateCrimeBrulee]

Because progressive efforts are either kneecapped out the gate to deter further developments, OR they get all bogged down in middle management and the current consultant class. Very rarely is it the actual platform/projects that don't work when the plans laid out for staffing and resources are followed. See our decriminalization vs Portugal's, who actually invested in the social programs to replace drug use.

[u/RutabagaExtreme714]

Dude make my life more affordable,

Who gives a rat fuck what kids are singing lol.

Gives North Korea vibes.

Literally with all the things going on in the world. This is what they are working on lmao

[u/ANILAT3RGaming]

Don't schools already do this? In alberta my public hs had the anthem every morning

[u/-JRMagnus → u/ANILAT3RGaming]

The anthem? Ive worked in 7 different highschools all over the province. Only time ive ever heard it is on Rememberance Day.

[u/dcdcdani → u/-JRMagnus]

I grew up in Manitoba. For elementary, middle and high school we had to stand every morning at our desks while O Canada played over the intercom. It took a minute ish. If you were in the hallway at the time you had to stop and stand there until it was over. Every single morning for my entire life and I’m only 28

[u/MisterSafetypants → u/dcdcdani]

I grew up in Manitoba too. The shuffle when a teacher isn’t looking because you are late for class was a classic maneuver

[u/apfejes → u/MisterSafetypants]

Oh Man, the memories!   I remember doing that back in elementary school in Winnipeg 40 years ago.  It was the ultimate game of red light green light.

[u/HistoricalChef1963 → u/-JRMagnus]

Grew up in Ontario. We did it the anthem every day 

[u/Lishamau5 → u/ANILAT3RGaming]

They always did this when I was a kid... dunno when it stopped-- if it actually did

[u/Derelicticu → u/Lishamau5]

Probably just depends where you live. We only sang it on Remembrance Day.

[u/Aggravating-Sir8185 → u/Derelicticu]

We only did it for weekly(?) assemblies.

[u/Gym14 → u/ANILAT3RGaming]

We had this in Ontario too when I was growing up. Anthem everyday in public school and high school, we didn’t sing but stood for it. My 6 yo kids school currently does this as well.

[u/Jorlaan]

Absolute performative politics meant to impress the right-wing voters that don't know any better while accomplishing absolutely nothing.

The flag already flies at virtually (if not every) every single school in the province, so that part is a complete waste of time to speak about, write about or think about.

Making kids sing the song every day will just instill resentment and waste time that is needed for actual school activities.

But yeah a whole bunch of right-wing voters will eat it up and say what a good job they're doing.

This is also likely a per-curser to banning "non Canadian" flags like in Alberta.

[u/DWKF]

Performative bullshit.

[u/Jackadullboy99 → u/DWKF]

Performative, but brainwashes young minds, often for life.

[u/collection-of-parts → u/Jackadullboy99]

Nah, I attended lots of schools that did. Didn't really affect me in that way. Every day seems excessive and wasteful though.

This is all just posturing and bullshit setting the stage to start discrimination against minorities, and LGBTQ kids

[u/ThisIsFineImFine89]

Patriotic virtue signalling. Brought to you by the same crowd who spent the last decade bemoaning virtue signalling.

Teacher here, we sing oh Canada at all assemblies.

An act of forced patriotism every morning isn’t going to influence a child to feel proud or connected to their country.

This just makes the cons
feel good about themselves, so they can pretend they’ve done something to improve
education

[u/CulturalWeird966 → u/ThisIsFineImFine89]

Oh so they do still do it at assemblies. And yeah I have the same thought, I think forcing kids to do it every day will not make them feel more proud, I think it would actually do the opposite. It also seems like a waste of time to do it

[u/LiquidEther → u/CulturalWeird966]

I love our national anthem but nothing would sour me on it faster than being forced to sing along every day...

[u/Hungryhungrycrow → u/CulturalWeird966]

As someone who had to do that growing up in Ontario, every single kid was thinking "wow this sucks" and either pretending to sing or just not singing at all. No one wanted to do it. Genuinely made kids resentful of the anthem lol

[u/TrueHarlequin → u/ThisIsFineImFine89]

Agreed. Assemblies is perfect. No need to do it every bloody morning.

[u/Veeman9 → u/ThisIsFineImFine89]

I mean they literally included in their written platform before the election that they would do this. Then people voted for them and they won. And now they are doing what they said they would. Not sure how people can get mad at them for literally doing what they said they would.

[u/Downtown-Pianist-449 → u/Veeman9]

Now this is a crazy thought, but hear me out. It might just be possible that the people getting mad at this are the ones that voted against them. 

[u/SpoonkyBandito → u/Veeman9]

Dunno why announcing something in a platform would invalidate disagreeing with it.

[u/ThisIsFineImFine89 → u/Veeman9]

Welcome to democracy. People can get mad with government’s actions if we disagree with.

Enjoy familiarizing yourself with our democratic norms and freedom of expression.

[u/Alternative-Tap-194 → u/Veeman9]

23% of people voted for them

[u/skwigi]

I am strongly opposed to the anthem being "required". It smacks of the American custom of having school children recite the pledge of allegiance. It's forcing children to act out what you want to make them believe. It's indoctrination, and it's wrong.

This new Premier we're getting seems to have his priorities on inside out and upside down.

[u/Laid_back_engineer → u/skwigi]

Agreed.

Want to sing the national anthem? Go ahead. Zero problems with that. Requiring all schools do it, every day? How the heck is this a priority?

[u/clp_legends]

They are just repeating bullshit they hear from the americans even if it doesn't fit the canadian reality. The flags are already in every school and in most institutions

[u/letmethinkonitabit]

I am a recently retired teacher of 35 years. Why do conservatives think going backwards will make society better? This is very old fashioned silliness. We sang Oh Canada and the Okanagan Song (indigenous) at each assembly and that was enough. For Pete's sake! If you want to make schools better provide supports in each classroom for the kids who need it. Thank you for listening, since no one else actually listens to teachers any more.

[u/Fit-Description-8571]

Everyday makes it feel cultish. Just do it at the start of assemblies and large gathers.

[u/EmotionalGuess2557]

Why do conservatives focus on pointless shit. Please just govern responsibly. Don't focus on culture war crap.

[u/morfraen → u/EmotionalGuess2557]

They can't actually fix anything so they just perform political theater for their base.

For anyone that actually read their party platform it was obvious this kind of crap is what we were going to get.

[u/The_WyldeThang → u/EmotionalGuess2557]

Culture war crap is all conservatives have. They fool the ignorant into voting for them, they support the wealthy, and they oppress minorities. It's textbook conservatism. Progressives are on one side, conservatives (regressives) on the other. It's the "stagnant pond" party.

[u/parkleswife]

Performative.

[u/Pisum_odoratus]

I am 63. We sang the national anthem when I was in grade school. There is a reason most countries don't do this anymore. It's performative patriotism and means nothing. I really wish these folks would focus on stuff that really matters. We don't need to go backwards in time 50+ years. Yes, we are facing new challenges of our current times, but there are a lot of reasons, the vast majority of us who paid attention and REMEMBER what the 60s and 70s were like, don't want to go back there. Edit. I just looked this up. Apparently we have NEVER had a legal requirement for singing the anthem. The legal requirement is to sing it at least three times a year in assemblies.

[u/PinkPowerRangerrr]

Is there a source for this besides a meme?

[u/douglah-7 → u/PinkPowerRangerrr]

This should be the top comment.

I did some digging and at best it's a misquote from the party platform (page 43): https://conservativebc.ca/plan/

We will get education and teaching back to basics, empower parents to better participate in their children’s education, and give families greater choice, and better support, for diverse needs. We will bring back the singing of O Canada at the beginning of the school day and proudly fly our Canadian and BC flags at every school.

Juno "News" ran an article making it sound like it's a mandate (it isn't): https://www.junonews.com/p/bc-conservatives-mandate-national-anthem-schools

And now it's a Facebook slop meme that of course doesn't bother to list a source 🙃

[u/UNSC157 → u/douglah-7]

Juno “News” ran an article making it sound like it’s a mandate (it isn’t):

How do you know that it won’t be required? Seems like a question of interpretation.

We will bring back the singing of O Canada at the beginning of the school day and proudly fly our Canadian and BC flags at every school.

They say they’ll bring it back. You assume it’ll be optional without providing any basis for that interpretation. Others interpret it to be a requirement, which doesn’t seem like an unreasonable interpretation based on the actual wording. Calling it a misquote at best is a stretch.

[u/douglah-7 → u/UNSC157]

How do you know that it won’t be required? Seems like a question of interpretation.

I don't know for sure, but right now there isn't a reliable source that says it would be required under a mandate. The onus is on pseudo news outlets like Juno News and rando Facebook memes that don't provide a source to prove that the claim is true, as opposed to just speculative ragebait.

They say they’ll bring it back. You assume it’ll be optional without providing any basis for that interpretation. Others interpret it to be a requirement, which doesn’t seem like an unreasonable interpretation based on the actual wording.

I assume nothing. I'm just pointing out that, at this point in time, all we know is that this topic was only mentioned by the BC Conservatives in a party platform document on a page that, more than anything, just seems to outline a vague vision about the school system.

Calling it a misquote at best is a stretch.

No. It's a misquote. Plain and simple. Specifically, the Juno News article's headline reads: "BC Conservatives to mandate national anthem in schools." There is no mention of a mandate in the party platform document.

Based on what we know right now, the meme in the OP is incorrect and a misquote. I have no idea if the BC Cons will pursue this seriously or not, but until such time as they do, claiming they have plans to can only be speculated.

[u/Ebiseanimono]

Wow what a life changing, real world issue he’s solving. Great start to making real change to the things that really matter to British Colombians… 🤦‍♂️

[u/crowbar151 → u/Ebiseanimono]

Nationalists gonna National 🤷‍♂️

[u/CaptainMagnets → u/Ebiseanimono]

It's stupid classic conservative mantra. It means nothing at the end of the day but it means everything to idiots.

They also already sing the national anthem at assemblies and school events and fly the flags already.

[u/Emeereson]

Embarrassing. We shouldn't be emulating our southern neighbors with their performative, mandated patriotism.

[u/Dark2099 → u/Emeereson]

Exactly this. Chat with an American about it, they’ll tell you how indoctrinated they feel later in life with this forced patriotism. Sports events, assemblies, etc are great but making kids do this every morning is not healthy for development.

For a group that went wild with “freedom” around Covid and making your own choices, isn’t forcing children to sing an anthem every day a bit contradictory?

[u/sam_bg → u/Dark2099]

American here… I felt it was indoctrination even as an adolescent in the 70s/80s. 

[u/Pooks23 → u/sam_bg]

Fellow GenXer dual citizen here, and yes, I agree. Fuck that noise.

[u/PristineTown4565 → u/Emeereson]

Let's call it what it is: nationalism. Patriotism is knowing about your country and loving it despite it's flaws, and wanting to make it better. Nationalism is blind loyalty to the symbolism of your country and ignoring all it's flaws because to acknowledge it's imperfections means you hate your country.

[u/Apples_bottom_jeans_ → u/Emeereson]

This is how I feel about it for my kids. Forced patriotism. It’s like we’re going back in time? I’m just praying at this point they’ll be out in 4 years because I’m truly upset my kids are going to be forced into this kind of bullshit.

[u/PolloConTeriyaki]

Does this lower grocery store prices? Lol it's like they didn't learn from the Blue Tsunami.

Clocks ticking Lorne. Asshole hasn't even started and he's already stirring up the resistance.

Edit: this is the conservatives that won in the lowest turnout in BC for the longest time.

https://globalnews.ca/news/12120927/bc-election-record-lowest-voter-turnout/

[u/canuckseh29]

Performative and meaningless if this is the first thing they think will help British Columbians

[u/TripppyTrish]

I grew up singing O Canada every morning.

Eventually started just mouthing the words and being silly about it (tried to hide that from the teachers or I’d get reprimanded 😅)

Helped me remember the words as an adult but I totally forgot about this being a thing

[u/ResponsibleSnowflake]

It’s one way to get kids hating the anthem.

[u/poolbitch1]

There are more important issues in education that need to be addressed first.

Like how about some more money? Lol.

[u/fromidable → u/poolbitch1]

No money. Just culture war bullshit.

[u/poolbitch1 → u/fromidable]

Speak on it 🔊

[u/Dazanman89]

Everyday?!?? We used to sing it at assemblies that was plenty to learn.

[u/MusicInTheAir55]

Nationalism is weird. What does forcing kids to sing this everyday actually accomplish? I'd rather see them build more schools than use dog whistles like this.

[u/InternationalFig400]

Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel. In this case, it is the first.

Ideological indoctrination, that's all.

[u/SukkarRush]

Just a bad sign. The party must know that they won on economic issues. If they want to stay in power, sticking to those issues is the winning strategy. Pivoting into culture war non-issues is a sign they are not governing for the long run and just want to exploit their opportunity to push an unpopular identity politics agenda in the short run. Huge disappointment.

[u/ejmears]

I feel like patriotism and nationalism like this are often misguided, or a flat out waste of time. We would be better off spending 5 minutes a day highlighting a trait or value that creates the type of community Canadians can be proud of.

With individualism and isolation on the rise a focus on collectivism and community isn't a bad idea to reinforce. A lot of Canadian pride is based in our shared value of a high trust society. Teaching and reinforcement of what those values are and how to enact and embody them daily would have a higher value to our kids and society than signing a song.

[u/DroppedThatBall]

This is the performative bullshit conservatives want not actually addressing real issues so this makes sense.

[u/8spd]

Wasteful for the government to spend time passing laws on this kind of thing, overly intrusive for the government to micromanage teachers' time like that, and wasteful of the kids time to spend time singing rather than learning. 

[u/RooblinDooblin → u/8spd]

My wife is a teacher and her only comment was "oh great, even less instructional time".

[u/321Freddit]

Wait BC doesn’t play “ O Canada” every morning in school ? Ontario does

[u/marga_marie]

What a hoser. Is this his best idea right now? Whoever is impressed by this should be embarrassed of themselves. 

[u/America_The_Stupid69]

What is it with Conservatives and forced loyalty oaths?

Didn't they claim to hate this kind of "time wasting" when it came to Indigenous Acknowledgement? How is this complete waste of time any different?

Can Conservatives stop being weird for like, a single solitary second of their existence? Fucking creeps

[u/civil_peace2022]

Are they going to increase the funding to the music programs so the kids learn how to sing?

[u/Daz004]

Good thing they have their priorities in order. /s

[u/zetcetera]

Needs a proper source, otherwise I’m just assuming this is ragebait.

Responding to the hypothetical I think it would be stupid to require the singing/playing of the anthem every day at school. I have nothing against the anthem but a song doesn’t equal patriotism. I already want it outta sports. As for the flying the BC flag, I don’t really care but schools already fly the Canadian flag, so it doesn’t seem needed.

[u/GalianoGirl]

Ridiculous.

We are not Americans who use performative patriotism.

[u/StuffWePlay]

Sounds like a bunch of authoritarian bullshit symbolism that does nothing of any actual value

[u/Grandmaster_Bae]

Not enough!!!!! I insist that they sing it in both English and French.

[u/Hopeful_Push_9712]

Nice identity politics you've got there Mr. Conservative.

[u/RavenFlite]

My thought on this is this really the most important thing that we need to start doing in this province. Hint: the answer is no. It’s just pointless and this does not bode well for the upcoming government.

[u/mtbredditor]

Performative BS. Thought conservatives were against that kind of thing.

[u/Wild_Witchy_Weirdo → u/mtbredditor]

They’re against performative/virtue signalling that doesn’t match their ‘virtues’.

[u/YYJnaturelover]

How to make sure the national anthem means nothing to a whole generation of young people, by Lorne Doerkson. First make them sing it daily, while simultaneously slashing the funding for their already underfunded schools, counsellors, and support staff. Make their school experience as performative and meaningless and stressful as possible. And just for good measure, let's trash the relationship with their indigenous classmates. This is going to be an exhausting four years. But at least they'll "own the libs".

[u/islndrob70 → u/YYJnaturelover]

And they sure showed Eby

[u/Knucklehead92]

But I thought the Conservatives were full of separtists that want to unite us with the US, and didnt care about our identity as Canadians.

[u/mymiddlenameswyatt]

I don't mind the flags. That's whatever. But the singing seems stupid, frankly. It's not that I think children shouldn't feel proud to be Canadian, but every day seems excessive.

It's not as if making them stand up and sing every day is going to make them like or understand the significance of the song more than they did before.

It's just the Conservatives flexing their muscles about "bringing traditional values back into schools". I think it gives a certain number of their voters hope that they can bring back the Lord's Prayer too.

[u/Alert-Control-4098]

The way it was done in the 70s and 80s …

[u/mrprezident]

What the hell are with this governments' priorities? How about working on affordability, housing, homelessness or ANYTHING that would actually make Canadian's lives easier???? Tabarnac!

[u/whole-ass-one-thing- → u/mrprezident]

Those are also priorities. You can have more than one priority.

[u/EscaOfficial → u/mrprezident]

They will be doing the opposite of all the things you listed. Enjoy!

[u/TheGriffin → u/mrprezident]

This culture war nonsense IS their priority. Thats all conservatives care about besides funneling money to their wealthy donors

[u/burntUpOnReentry]

Focusing on the highest priority issues facing British Columbia, absolute clown show

[u/orlybatman]

Waste of fucking time. The school day is already packed.

When I lived in Alberta as a kid my school made us do this, and rather than encouraging pride it made me resent being made to do it. As a rebellion I refused to sing and only mouthed the words so I wouldn't get caught.

[u/BenAfflecksBalls]

Run of the mill Conservative circlejerking.

[u/rumrunner198]

He is definitely giving off out of touch 78 year old vibes (despite being 58 apparently). Embarrassing.

[u/NudeBeachEnthusiast]

That should help with groceries and rent!

[u/MachTimebitches]

Does an attempt to make the kids more patrotic make them less likely to complain when they too can't afford food or housing?

[u/Petra246]

Why stop at schools? Make it a requirement that every business must stop and sign the anthem. Make it a set time in order to validate compliance.

[u/SnooPeripherals5752]

I like it. National pride and unity.

[u/Driller_Happy]

My kid will sing the anthem when she wants to, not when her leaders tell her to

[u/Sensitive_Cycle9256]

cool… children will be forced to sing the national anthem while other valuable teachings and programs will be defunded or removed completely.

[u/PorygonTriAttack]

A little bit funny because they would take issue with pride flags - and they do. I'm straight and what people want to do is their choice. Make it free for them then.

I am patriotic. That said, I am of the opinion that we don't need to subject people to this formality of anthems and flag waving. It's a type of virtue signalling.

The provincial government should focus on the education system, not overreaching crap like this.

[u/jB_real]

Although we sang O’ Canada before assemblies when dignitaries were present, I’m not sure it’s needed daily.

Why don’t the Conservatives implement what they really want, that all immigrant children be forced to pledge allegiance to the flag daily.

[u/GrizzlyIsland22 → u/jB_real]

In fact, it feels cheap when you have to sing it everyday. Singing and hearing it so often waters it down and it loses it's power

[u/novocsblade9000]

People that love political constructions like countries are weird.

[u/Tall-Frame9918]

I’m gonna guess the next announcement will be “only the Canadian Flag and BC Flag” can fly. All other flags will be banned.

[u/PirateCrimeBrulee]

Oh yay, nationalism

[u/biomactum]

An embarassing waste of time and energy. Sing the anthem at assemblies and call it a day.

It’s gonna be a long 4 years of this nonsense.

[u/Yoooooooowhatsup]

While I think this is kind of dumb, we sang the national anthem at every school assembly when I was in school and my friends and I still came out the other side thinking intense patriotism was silly and destructive, so the kids of today can probably reach the same conclusion, anthem or not.

[u/hillwoodlam]

This is how america indoctrinated so many into thinking they're the best country in the world. We don't need this

[u/Legend_of_Moblin]

Every day is ludicrous. It takes away the meaning.

[u/baltway]

As it should be in any normal society. Enough with the self-loathing.

[u/AudaciousCockatiel]

This is beautiful. Hilariously conservative and on point. But beautiful

[u/Responsible_Crew_826]

All for it. More of this please.

[u/dece75]

How is this in anyway controversial?

[u/nigelthrustworthy]

virtue signalling nonsense, maybe solve some real problems... when will they want to post the 10 Commandments on the walls?

[u/Ready-Ad1931]

Performative bullshit. There are actual issues to deal with, and this shitstain is worrying about getting back in the office and singing the anthem? C'mon.

I used to be a conservative party member, but ffs - the entire right wing throughout the continent has collectively decided that it's far better to be loud than it is to be serious...

[u/AbleRefrigerator1285]

I live on the East Coast, we had the anthem play every single morning and we were expected to stand up and be respectful for it. I kinda thought this was a thing all over Canada tbh

[u/Bllago]

Fake patriotism. yay!

[u/Rich-Description9152]

My thoughts are this guy is wasting all of our time and money making this ridiculous changes. Seriously.

[u/TotallyNotAnAlien-_-]

Glad they're getting right to the important stuff

[u/mattns]

We have bigger issues to deal with. Why is this a thing.

[u/Ok_Upstairs_1682]

Make me sing any song every single day and I’ll resent it and whatever it stands for. Sing it at special occasions, like hockey games and the assembly where they tell you not to do drugs.

[u/Inevitable-Tea5772]

While I think its ridiculous,  we sure are lacking a lot of pride in the country these days

[u/SirReeksalot → u/Inevitable-Tea5772]

Forced pride isn't real though. How about making Canada what it was when it was the envy of the world. We had one of the best educational systems, some of the best medical care... now look at us. This clown will cut education funding, privatize hospitals. Over the next 4 years these fucks will make sure there is no reason to feel pride about our nation.

[u/jiffy_crunch → u/SirReeksalot]

You don't need too have the best everything and be the envy of the world to have national pride. Sometimes national pride is as simple as tribe mentality and being happy for what you have. Recently it seems t be looked down on to have national pride in Canada and the common response to national pride is being called a colonizer or something else derogatory towards the country.

Recognizing the country with the anthem each morning doesn't force pride, it makes space for it to exist.

[u/East_Association_700]

glorioUSssssssssssssssssssssssss

Heh heh heh

[u/sylbug]

It's sounds like he's trying to emulate the creepy fascist shit the Americans (and lately, Alberta) do to indoctrinate children.

This is what happens when you back these insufferable pricks.

[u/yeo179 → u/sylbug]

By singing the national anthem? Lmao

[u/anilshredder → u/sylbug]

The fact you’re mad about this is hilarious. Accusing him of being a fascist and “indoctrinating children” for our NATIONAL ANTHEM! Turn your brain on

[u/ChildTickler69 → u/sylbug]

“Fascism is when you sing national anthem”

[u/generalclinkhammer → u/sylbug]

Lol im 36 and we did this in school. Whats wrong with it , its the country you live in.

[u/Wayves]

They used to play O Canada over the PA in elementary school every Monday morning. No one really gave it much thought...

I will say this, if it is mandated, please PLEASE don't play some crappy low quality instrumental audio recording to sing to.

[u/builderbuster]

The fact that he is trotting this out as designate, not elect, says a great deal about this party priorities.

I am not averse to this but would not support daily. Perhaps weekly and special occasions. Perhaps he could include mandatory music (singing, choir) classes as well? Few people are natural singers!

[u/hudson27]

You know how people talk about politicians pushing pointless issues to the forefront, while ignoring the issues citizens actually want addressed? Yeah, that's what this is.

It's also a beautifully designed wedge issue to win over the old folks like OP who didn't even know they stopped doing this. People need to educate themselves on these manipulation tactics, too many people in this city fall for this crap.

[u/arfarftalkingdog]

Should we address real issues that matter to our constituents, like unaffordable housing or the unpredictability of the employment market?

No way: lets do mindless US style nationalism, instead!

Big History of the World vibes, ngl

https://youtu.be/MqkT4B-9MGk

[u/Hambulatory]

I used to have to pledge allegiance to the flag, the queen, and sing o canada in both English and French. It did not indoctrinate me. But I do see it as a waste of time, which I feel like is a good skill to learn as a form of passive protest. Bureaucratic inefficiency is about to become the unofficial result of half these contrived new policies.

[u/collindubya81]

I remember singing o Canada every day as a kid, however I feel it would be performative and odd in our current climate, singing should be for assemblies and special events. I'm okay with every school having a flag,

[u/Jorlaan → u/collindubya81]

Every school already has a flag.

[u/Eswift33]

I like this, but let's not pretend this isn't the conservative equivalent of virtue signaling

[u/BlackberryIcy664]

There is nothing "wrong" with it. The issue is, why is this a priority. It's like standing infront of a fire that is creeping towards your house and you decide to run over to the mall to buy some socks.

[u/Lifeiscrazy101 → u/BlackberryIcy664]

Cultwar is literally all we do in Canada, oh and Neoliberalism

[u/Lucky_Owl_4524]

As an immigrant, I don't see anything wrong with it. We used do this *weekly* back home in the Philippines lol

[u/jha999]

Only had to do it for school assemblies. Everyday seems excessive

[u/codswallop1226 → u/jha999]

I mean, I have to click that a read the land acknowledgment pop up every time I go onto the schools websites, so this seems only fair.

[u/saltywetlol]

I'm so confused why this is an issue for any person or party. 

I grew up in Ontario singing the anthem ever day up until University. 

Afaik none of my friends grew up to be fascists. In fact most are well-adjusted kind adults and not conservative by any stretch. 

[u/a-weird-weirdo → u/saltywetlol]

Also from Ontario and we did this every day. I am kinda surprised other provinces don’t I had just assumed everyone did this lol.

[u/violetvoid513 → u/saltywetlol]

Its just a waste of time both on the part of classrooms and the government. I dont think stuff like this should be eating into classtime thats often already spread very thin. Of course, some would (imo rightfully) argue that this sort of forced patriotism shouldnt be forced on kids, so as much as I like patriotism and think kids should learn to appreciate our country, I think mandating this is kinda meh

[u/TheBrittca]

This guy used to be a part of the ‘Liberal Party of BC’ … this isn’t the first Con government in 100 years…

[u/funbaked]

I like singing the anthem, I think doing it everyday would make me despise it

[u/LowMolasses4446]

As an American this concerns me.. don’t become a bunch of national terrorists like we have here!! Pleeeez.

[u/ardarian262]

Why waste time with this American style brainwashing bullshit?

[u/Ill-Beautiful-8026]

I see the new government is wasting no time creating wedge issues. That being said, the current required land acknowledgements (daily) in elementary schools is just as much a waste of time, and unnecessary, and creepy.

Let the teachers manage their own classrooms.

[u/disneyplusser]

Why is this controversial?

[u/WardenEdgewise]

Doerkson wakes up in the morning and asks himself, “What would Donald Trump do?”

[u/Psychoanalytix]

Basically exactly what i expect from them. Just a bunch of virtue signaling culture war bullshit instead of actual legislation that makes peoples lives better

[u/Winter_External5625]

They used to do this when I was growing up - when’d they get rid of it, and why?

And why do Canadians have such a hard time being patriotic? lol do you hate Canada that much? All I see in these comments are ‘a waste of time and money’ - it’s a recording of the national anthem they play of the intercom, can’t be too expensive lol, and a waste of time? If respecting Canada is a waste of time, why not move to a country you don’t respect?