Scandal: New Canadian bank notes feature wrong maple leaf
National symbols are important, of course, and the sensitivity to using the proper icon is nothing particular to Canada. On Twitter, though, a Beruit-based architect and blogger named Karl Sharro points out a bit of irony: “The woman on the bill isn’t Canadian, either.” He would be referring to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England, who is still Canada’s monarch. You have to wonder if the Canadians upset about a Norwegian leaf are bothered by the much larger foreign face that adorns those same banknotes.
It’s a small irony that gets to a larger issue in Canada, one that goes back to the maple-leaf flag itself. When it was implemented in 1965, it came at the opposition of a number of Canadians of English heritage, who wanted to keep the old flag of the British Empire. It’s a fascinating, if generally quiet, tug of war between a primarily Canadian national identity and a British heritage. And, yes, it’s particularly sensitive in French-speaking Quebec.
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Nothing good comes from Canada except the girls of Vancouver.
We will have our own currency debacle down here soon enough when the $1 Million Rial note with Barky’s mug on the front is issued. At least it can still be green though…
Bishop on January 21, 2013 at 9:51 PM
Actually Elizabeth II is the Queen of Canada, and certainly a Canadian Citizen… She is it’s sovereign.
ebrawer on January 21, 2013 at 10:02 PM
As we used the Red Ensign and not the Union Jack, it would come a surprise to Canadians too. (journalism heh!)
BL@KBIRD on January 21, 2013 at 10:07 PM
Does that let us off the hook for flying their flag upside down that time?
cozmo on January 21, 2013 at 10:08 PM
Dude, Canada’s dollar coin is called the LOONIE!
(And, no, I am not making that up. Look it up for yourself.)
This is a country that prides itself on not taking money seriously.
logis on January 21, 2013 at 10:12 PM
This is horrible, Canada, send all of those awful bills down to us so we can dispose of them…
right2bright on January 21, 2013 at 10:15 PM
The Queen is not a Canadian citizen. Her status is symbolic and cultural, a connection and continuity to our past. A beneficial thing for a nation.
BL@KBIRD on January 21, 2013 at 10:18 PM
It is called a loonie because an image of a Loon is stamped on it. The two dollar coin is called a twoonie.
BL@KBIRD on January 21, 2013 at 10:21 PM
Does Canada even have paved roads? I know Wisconsin doesn’t.
Bishop on January 21, 2013 at 10:28 PM
OK, now you’re just piling on.
I concede your point (albeit ad nauseam) that respect for our beloved neighbor to the north may be too much to ask. But can’t you at least try to exercise some measure of restraint?
logis on January 21, 2013 at 10:51 PM
Was about to say, “Way to fail at insulting the readership.”
Then again, I’m sure there are plenty of Americans coming from our public school system who would be amazed we let the English loiter about on the continent (and give us more French people!) after the colonial uprising.
I’m being self-ingratiating, as I am one of those Acadian exiles.
Sgt Steve on January 21, 2013 at 10:56 PM
And yet the Canadians have the good sense to save money and mint their one and two dollar denominations instead of printing. Same with the Euro in Europe.
So who doesn’t take their money seriously now?
Sgt Steve on January 21, 2013 at 11:00 PM
They prefer a plain, white flag.
ThePrimordialOrderedPair on January 22, 2013 at 12:49 AM
By that standard, Obama takes American money somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion times more “seriously” than Canada and Europe take theirs.
logis on January 22, 2013 at 12:49 AM
Touche! LOL.
ThePrimordialOrderedPair on January 22, 2013 at 12:51 AM
After seeing those orange bills they put out a few years back I wouldn’t even count on that.
The Queen isn’t even a citizen in the UK. It’s one of the few drawbacks of sovereignty.
Now that’s just mean. Wisconsin has paved roads. I’ve seen pictures of both of them.
Browncoatone on January 22, 2013 at 3:29 AM
Log I am Canadian, (born in Toronto, ON) and I can testify that yes indeed, our dollar coin is in fact called a loonie and our $2 coin (which replaced the $2 bill, that also had QE’s image on it in 1996 )is called a twonie(toonie) ? I am not even sure how it’s spelled.
cableguy615 on January 22, 2013 at 6:10 AM
If anyone looks at the Twenty will know that this maple leaf is part of the security features. Like little printing around a head portrait. The added points over the 9 points leaf just add to the detail that one would have to copy on to the clear plastic window background. One point out of place could give it up. The counterfeiters will never try to copy this plastic bill over continuing doing the old ones even when they are out of circulation as it is to hard.
tjexcite on January 22, 2013 at 7:29 AM