Coins | Louis Riel instead of Charles III, wants the Bloc Québécois

Will we see Louis Riel succeeding Elizabeth II on the obverse of our coins instead of his son, the new King Charles III?

The idea appeals to the Bloc Québécois, which believes that the opportunity is good for the government of Justin Trudeau to use the currency to pay tribute to Canadian democratic institutions rather than to a foreign monarch.

Bloc Québécois MP Rhéal Fortin intends to submit the proposal soon to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is responsible for the Royal Canadian Mint.

“When we print money, there is something in there that must look like us,” says the Bloc Québécois critic for justice and when it comes to the Privy Council.

According to Mr. Fortin, the monarchy is being questioned in Canada. He refers to a web survey conducted by the firm Léger last September indicating that 77% of Canadians said they were not attached to the British monarchy.

Waiting for the government

The first coins bearing the image of Charles III entered circulation in the United Kingdom on Thursday. When for Canada?

At the Royal Canadian Mint, we are still waiting for the rest of the events, three months after the death of Queen Elizabeth II who reigned over Canada for the past 70 years.

“It is the federal government that has the power to change the features of the coins, including their designs. We are currently awaiting his decision,” said Alex Reeves, spokesperson for the Royal Canadian Mint, in an interview.

It is by tradition that the sovereign appears on our coins. “There is no law in Canada that requires the government to affix the sovereign’s image to Canadian circulation coins,” explains Mr. Reeves.

As for the printing of banknotes, the responsibility rests with the Bank of Canada. “The current polymer $20 bill should be in circulation for many years to come. There is no legislative requirement to modify the graphics of the ticket within a prescribed period when there is a new monarch, ”wrote in an email Amélie Ferron-Craig, consultant in relations with the media of the institution.

“It is up to the Minister of Finance to approve the form and material of any new note, in accordance with the Bank of Canada Act, she says. This also applies to the portraits that appear on the tickets. »

The Department of Finance did not respond to our questions.

In the UK, the image of Charles will start dressing tickets in mid-2024, Agence France-Presse reported on Friday.

No fear of running out of change

Whatever decision the government takes, there will be no shortage of coins, insists the spokesman for the Royal Mint. “We have enough 2022 coins to supply the market in the coming months. »

Earlier this week, the Royal Canadian Mint issued a standard $2 coin, but surrounded by a black outer ring reminiscent of a mourning armband, as a tribute to Her Majesty. The coin will begin circulating later this month. Nearly five million coins will be put into circulation. If necessary, additional parts could be produced.

Who will be the author of the portrait?

The official portrait of Charles III which appears on these British coins is the work of sculptor Martin Jennings, designed from a photograph and approved by the King.

The face of the new king is turned to the left, while Queen Elizabeth II is turned to the right, following tradition.

“We have an in-house team that is ready to produce the new pattern in a timely manner,” says Mr. Reeves of the Royal Canadian Mint. Since we will have to produce a new piece in a shorter time, we rely on our team of in-house engravers. They are all professional artists. »

For the record, it is the “uncrowned” effigy of Elizabeth II by Vancouver artist Susanna Blunt that has adorned our rooms since 2003. It was chosen following a competition to mark the jubilee of gold (50 years) of the queen.