UPDATED Jan. 2020 Originally Posted April 2015
The year was 2000 and I noticed a seemingly small change was made to Canada’s Coat of Arms, the symbol of legal authority for governing Canada.
A “simple” circular “banner” was added to the background surrounding the shield. That’s all. Or was it?
The official date the new design was approved by the Queen officially on July 12, 1994, but the changes had not been made in many departments of the government until beginning in 2000.
The House of Commons Debates record shows the first change to using the new Coat of Arms did not appear until March 12, 1996 and the Canada Gazette did not display the new version until October 15, 1997!
What were the changes for and why the delay in the implementation period? [new video added at end]
A careful review of the design used prior to the addition of the ribbon shows that there were major and wholesale changes made to every element of the Coat of Arms. Every element carries meaning, change the element and change the meaning. (http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/symbl/arm2-eng.cfm)
Was adding the ribbon a convenient excuse to cover up a “legally required” change of the other elements? A flag is recognized as representing the law as is a Coat of Arms. Change the flag and the law changes.
The changes are easy to see if you know what to look for and they add up fast. There are eight major elements to the design and each element has multiple aspects, every element changed.
The first and most obvious change is that the “old” flags had fringes. Gold fringe on the British flag and silver fringe on the French flag. There are many thoughts on the meaning of fringe which we will address another time. The new design now displays those two flags each with no fringe.
Can you spot the other changes?
Throughout government offices in 2000 things were changing. Every letterhead and sign using the old needed to be updated with the new?
Here’s a scan from the Privacy Commissioner’s office letter. The first letter I received in 2000 had the “old” Coat of Arms and by early 2001 it was this new version.
The House of Commons Debates Official Report, the Hansard, first shows the new version on Volume 133, Number 011 – March 12, 1996. Almost 2 years after the official change.
The Canada Gazette first shows the new version of the Coat of Arms on Volume 131, Number 021 – October 15, 1997, seven months later! Over 3 years after the official change.
So what you say? The Coat of Arms is recognized in law like a badge on a police officer, no badge equals a private citizen and no official powers.
What does it mean when a legislature issues law under a “badge” of authority that has been out of issue for years? Why was it necessary to remove the fringes? I bet the addition of the circular banner was the excuse to reissue the Coat of Arms without the fringed flags because of a legal requirement to remove the fringed flags.
There are many questions here that will be explored in the future. Anyone want to help research and discover what may have been going on?
Also note that many government departments have been, and are being, sliced off and turned into “agencies” corporate governance style. The changes to departments needing to use the new Coat of Arms really accelerated in 1999, but the first changes to the new Coat of Arms were made in 1996-97 on official versions of the Gazette and House of Commons Debates. Hmmmm.
Some people believe that the fringe on the flags represents the nation being in bankruptcy, therefore removing the fringe may mean coming out of bankruptcy. A man is in bankruptcy for 7 years and nation is in bankruptcy for 70 years.
1996/7/9 – 70 = 1926/7/9 what happened in those years, hmmmm? Or is there another reason?
For example the Department of National Revenue became Revenue Canada, which merged with the Customs Department to form the new “streamlined” Canada Customs and Revenue AGENCY (CCRA), which a few years later split again into two independent agencies. They were joined supposedly to create a “more efficient structure” only to be split apart a couple of years later. What? Not departments of the government anymore, but independent agencies with corporate like structures.
The Monarchists League even complained that it was an affront to Her Majesty that the new CCRA would not display the Crown on their badges and official designs. Maybe because they were no longer under the law of the Queen but under the law of corporations? (http://www.monarchist.ca/cmn/2000/cragency.htm)
It’s hard to discuss one idea without branching off into others because they are really all connected. Watch for updates on this topic.
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New Money Designs: Coat of Arms Changes Over The Years
Finally getting to the last issue about the coat of arms changes…triggered by the latest version of brand new plastic Canadian money.
I believe the change of the coat of arms and other changes represent legal changes at the legal foundation of the country.
UPDATE January 2020 – Canada coat of arms returns
The first new bank note to contain the Canadian coat of arms since 2001-2006 series. The new $10 vertical note:
https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/vertical10/
If you check the new edition bills (2011) release there is:
- NO coat of arms on it anywhere,
- there is a real Canadian maple leaf shape dominating, the 13 point copyrighted artificial maple leaf is still seen but secondary to the “real” leaf.
- the word “Canada” appears in capitis diminutio minima (first letter capitalized only).
- No “PAY TO” or “LEGAL TENDER” notice
- No borders
BANK of CANADA INFO – https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/bank-note-series/frontiers/
2001-2006 – Canadian Journey Series issued has:
- first appearance of a coat of arms with no fringes on the flags as noted above,
- CANADA in all caps (capitis diminutio maxima),
- the artificial 13 point maple leaf.
- No “PAY TO” or “LEGAL TENDER” notice
- No borders
- the Queen’s crown goes missing on all coins
BANK of CANADA INFO – https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/bank-note-series/canadian-journey/
1986 Series – Birds of Canada issued 1986 has:
- a coat of arms with fringe flags as noted above,
- CANADA in all caps (capitis diminutio maxima)
- no maple leaf
- No “PAY TO” or “LEGAL TENDER” notice
- No borders
BANK of CANADA INFO – https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/bank-note-series/1986-series-birds-of-canada/
1969-1979 Series – Scenes of Canada
- full colour coat of arms where the flags have clearly seen gold and silver fringes
- CANADA in all caps (capitis diminutio maxima)
- no maple leaf
- “THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER”
- Borders
BANK of CANADA INFO – https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/bank-note-series/past-series/1969-1979/
1954 series has:
- first appearance of coat of arms and it has the fringe flags as noted above,
- CANADA in all caps (capitis diminutio maxima)
- “WILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND”
- Borders
BANK of CANADA INFO – https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/bank-note-series/past-series/1954-series/
All versions prior to 1954 have no coat of arms.
1937 Series – https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/bank-note-series/past-series/1937-series/
1935 Series – https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/bank-note-series/past-series/1935-series/
click images to open in full screen
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A video on the corporate bankruptcy of USA and Canada. Note the dates that are mentioned and compare the dates to the change in the coat of arms of Canada….
New Website Designs for Most of Canadian Government Websites
The government website designs have undergone dramatic signs of change as well. Keep in mind the law of the flag and the position of authority symbols.
Most, NOT all, government websites were rebranded between 2008-2011 with a “real” maple leaf appearing front and centre at the top of the page and in 2014 rebranded again with a black bar at the top and reversed white flag.
Top right or centre is the authority position for coat of arms or flag in the official colours – the appearance of the BLACK BAR top and bottom is of note.
The reverse white type for the department and flag is noteworthy.
The “natural” maple leaf that appeared to centre has now been moved bottom centre and replaced by the trade marked “artistic” maple leaf.
Changes to the Court System in British Columbia
- The disappearance in 1990 of the original, inherent jurisdiction County Court in B.C. (merged into Supreme Court of British Columbia) and the creation by and Act the statutory Provincial Court of British Columbia.
- The elimination of the use of legal sized paper in court, replaced by “business” size paper in the 1990’s
- The elimination of the previously required oath of allegiance to the Queen for B.C. lawyers.
U.S.A Fringe Flags Info
The U.S.A. has codified everything in great detail including the use of various flags and there decorations, including fringes.
Many people rail on about “gold fringe flags” and get laughed at. Well there may be a good reason. There exist almost no gold fringes in the flag regulations but lots of “yellow” and “golden yellow” fringes as can be found in this manual. Just word search. There are lots clearly described.
DOWNLOAD PDF – ARMY FLAG REGULATION 840-10
If you are yelling about “gold fringes” and in fact and regulation they are “yellow” that’s all they need to laugh at you. You’re technically wrong and don’t know what you are talking about.
The first step is to name a thing correctly.
There is no such specific info on the use of fringe in Canada. One inquiry years ago about the use of yellow fringe on the Canadian flag in the legislatures was responded to with:
“the fringe has no specific meaning an can mean whatever the viewer wants it to mean…”
WTF. How’s that for ambiguous and possibly deceptive. Welcome to the world of symbols that are in your face all the time, which only those ‘in the know’ know, as they wink at each other and laugh at everyone else.
