After a tense month of debate, the House of Commons voted in favour of a dying MP’s bill to change the lyrics of the national anthem at third reading.

Mauril Bélanger’s private member’s bill would change a line in “O Canada” from “In all thy sons command” to “In all of us command” in an effort to make the lyrics gender-neutral. It will now head to the Senate.

It passed the vote 225–74, an increase from the 219–79 vote at second reading. The government and the NDP voted for the bill, along with a minority of Conservatives. Most Tories voted against the bill.

Both sides of the House gave a standing ovation following the vote. The House then sung the modified version of the anthem.

It also happens to be Bélanger’s birthday.

For this vote on his inclusive lyrics for O Canada, the incredibly courageous Mauril Belanger is in the House. #cdnpoli #GPC — Elizabeth May (@ElizabethMay) June 15, 2016

Bélanger was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the fall, and his condition is rapidly deteriorating. His ailment prompted the Liberals to attempt to fast-track the bill through the House, though the Conservatives consistently blocked those efforts.

Some Conservatives oppose the bill as a threat to Canada’s history and heritage. Others have pointed to negative reaction to the change from their constituents and backlash to a similar effort in their 2010 throne speech.

Len Webber, Conservative MP for Calgary-Confederation, voted in favour of the bill at second reading, but voted against it at third reading after polling his constituents.

The results are in and 86% of my constituents oppose changing the words of O'Canada. I voted accordingly on their behalf. — Len Webber, MP (@Webber4Confed) June 15, 2016

Conservatives Peter Van Loan, Larry Maguire, and Kevin Waugh, members of the standing committee on Canadian Heritage, believe the bill did not receive adequate review at committee.

Bélanger made an emotional appearance in the House to move his bill to third reading last week after government whip Andrew Leslie failed to get unanimous consent from the House to sponsor it in Bélanger’s place. Wheelchair-bound and almost immobile, he was swarmed by colleagues and received a standing ovation from the government and the NDP.

Bélanger’s bill will now head to the Senate, though whether Canadians will be singing the new lyrics on Canada Day is still in question. Conservative senator Nancy Ruth, a supporter of the change, told Jason Fekete of the Ottawa Citizen she doesn’t believe the bill will be passed before the fall. Parliament will rise at the end of June for the summer.