Editor:
The recent controversy over what images are appropriate on Canadian currency bills (besides those of the Queen or past prime ministers) caused me a bit of head scratching. For one thing, I hadn't really noticed that there were other people images. The only images on currency that most of us are interested in are the colour of the bill and its denomination.
In this era of sensitivity to population diversity, it seems that the powers that be are "bending over backwards" in an attempt to accommodate every segment of our society. According to a recent article by The Canadian Press, focus groups were hired to consider themes involving diversity, inclusiveness and multiculturalism. The article goes on to say that "Many images proposed did not make the cut. Rejected were illustrations of a gay marriage, an RCMP officer wearing a turban, and a black hockey player." Although submissions from the general public weren't invited, my suggestion would be to forget people images altogether and use animals instead. Take bears, for example. There's the iconic polar bear, the black bear and the brown bear. I'm not sure where the Grizzly bear might fit in here, but there are probably other bears that could round out the inclusiveness and diversity part nicely. But then there is the question about which of the aforementioned bears should be shown on the different denominations. For instance, if a polar bear was shown on the $100 dollar bill and a black bear or a brown bear on the $20, it might be seen as discrimination (polar bears being white). See where I'm going with this? You got it - this whole thing is getting a little crazy and hard to ‘bear'.
David MacCallum,
Charlottetown
