The House of Commons is one step closer to adopting a dying Liberal MP's private member's bill to render the words to 'O Canada' more gender-neutral.

Mauril Belanger's attempt to change the lyrics to the national anthem have hit yet another snag in the House of Commons, even as the Ottawa MP's health continues to deteriorate.

The House of Commons is debating an effort by dying Liberal Mauril Belanger to render the national anthem gender-neutral, by replacing the line in the English version "in all thy sons command" with "in all of us command."