Thursday March 10, 2016
Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday March 10, 2016
Canadian woman will be on next series of bank notes, Trudeau announces
The image of an iconic Canadian woman will appear on the next issue of bank notes, Prime Minister Trudeau announced today.
“A Canadian woman will be featured on the very first of the next series of bills expected in 2018,” Trudeau said.
“Today, on International Women’s Day, the Bank of Canada is taking the first step by launching public consultations to select an iconic Canadian woman to be featured on this new bill.”
The government and the Bank of Canada did not indicate which denomination would showcase the iconic female Canadian.
Finance Minister Bill Morneau, who stood alongside the prime minister with other members of the Liberal caucus and former Mississauga, Ont., mayor Hazel McCallion during the announcement, noted that it is “high time to change.”
Kim Campbell
“One of the very first things I had the honour of doing as the new finance minister was asking the governor of the Bank of Canada, Stephen Poloz, and his colleagues at the bank whether it’s in fact possible to put a woman on the bank note,” said Morneau.
The finance minister said he was told the central bank had been looking into the possibility for some time and was keen to support the initiative.
From now until April 15, Canadians can visit the Bank of Canada’s website to submit nominations for the woman they think should appear on the bill.
My short list
The nominees can be any Canadian woman, either by birth or naturalization, who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, achievement or distinction in any field, said a release from the central bank.
The nominees cannot be a fictional character and must have died prior to April 15, 1991.
Once the nomination period is over, an independent advisory council made up of academics and cultural leaders will review the submissions and present a short list to Morneau for his consideration. (Source: CBC News)