Vol. 148, No. 27 — December 31, 2014

Registration

SOR/2014-310 December 12, 2014

ROYAL CANADIAN MINT ACT

Order Authorizing the Issue of a Two Dollar Circulation Coin Specifying the Characteristics and Determining the Design

P.C. 2014-1481 December 12, 2014

His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Finance, pursuant to sections 6.4 (see footnote a) and 6.5 (see footnote b) of the Royal Canadian Mint Act (see footnote c), authorizes the issue of a two dollar circulation coin, the characteristics of which are to be as specified in item 1.1 (see footnote d) of Part 2 of the schedule to that Act and the diameter of which is to be 28.03 mm, and determines the design of that coin to be as follows:

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT

(This statement is not part of the Order.)

Issues

The Royal Canadian Mint (the Mint) wishes to produce a $2 circulation coin as part of the Commemorative Circulation Coin Program to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Sir John A. Macdonald’s birth. Pursuant to sections 6.4 and 6.5 of the Royal Canadian Mint Act, the Governor in Council may, by order, authorize the issue of circulation coins of a denomination listed in Part 2 of the schedule and determine the design of any circulation coin to be issued.

Background

The Commemorative Circulation Coin Program assists in the promotion of Canada, Canadian values, culture and history to Canadians. These special coins raise awareness of celebrations and anniversaries of importance to Canadians and create engagement with the Canadian public.

Objectives

To use circulation coinage to commemorate and promote the 200th anniversary of Sir John A. Macdonald’s birth, in accordance with the Government of Canada’s priority commemorations for events of broad, national significance in 2015.

Description

This Order authorizes the Mint to produce a $2 circulation coin.

The $2 coin will commemorate Sir John A. Macdonald’s birth. The coin design will feature a portrait of Sir John A. Macdonald with a map of Canada in the background.

“One-for-One” Rule

This Order does not impose new administrative costs to business. Therefore, the “One-for-One” Rule does not apply.

Small business lens

This Order does not impose new administrative or compliance costs to small business. Therefore, the small business lens does not apply.

Rationale

The 200th anniversary of Sir John A. Macdonald’s birth has been identified as a key nation-building milestone by the Interdepartmental Commemorations Committee (ICC) — chaired by the Department of Canadian Heritage — that manages the Government of Canada’s commemorations priorities. Under the ICC’s purview, the 200th anniversary of Sir John A. Macdonald’s birth has been identified as a priority commemoration by the Government of Canada.

The 2015 $2 circulation coin will be part of the Commemorative Circulation Coin Program to honour the 200th anniversary of Sir John A. Macdonald’s birth. Sir John A. Macdonald, whose image appears on the $2 coin, was one of the driving forces behind Confederation in the 1860s and composed most of the document known as Canada’s first constitution, the British North America Act, in 1867. After leading the creation of the Canadian nation state, Macdonald became Canada’s first Prime Minister (1867–1873; 1878–1891).

Because these coins are available at face value and circulate widely, public demand is high, with many coins being collected and taken out of circulation. Commemorative circulation coin programs create important benefits by contributing to the overall success of the event being celebrated as well as generating additional revenue for the government.

The coin will be distributed through financial institutions.

Contact

Simon Kamel
Interim Vice-President
Corporate and Legal Affairs and Corporate Secretary
Corporate and Legal Affairs
Royal Canadian Mint
320 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G8
Telephone: 613-993-1732
Fax: 613-990-4665
Email: kamel@mint.ca