It’s tax time in America.
Which means it must be tax time in Canada, too. Right?
Maybe not.
After all, Canadians don’t even have pennies anymore. (What did they do with the poor pennies?!)
And have you ever heard of a Loonie? A Toonie? GST?
Fear not! For just as I shared with you the exact location of Canada in Part I of the riveting series, The Surprising Truth about Canada, I will now share everything you need to know to make cents of Canada’s economy and it’s colorful currency. There are even some random nuggets about beavers and Mounties.
Who am I kidding? All of this economic goodness is courtesy of Kelly L. McKenzie, my resident Canadian blogging buddy. Kelly, who writes the hilarious Just Typikel blog , has an amazing sense of humor and will enlighten us now by answering my queries (in bold) about Canucks and their money below.
(In case you missed it, don’t forget to catch up on the first part of our diplomatic series just guaranteed to improve Canada-U.S. relations on her blog and mine.)
With glowing hearts, we turn now to The Surprising Truth about Canada, Part II (aka making sense of Canada’s cents):
1. Why did Canada get rid of pennies? Where did they all go?
We finally saw the light. The Canadian Mint (where our currency is created) stopped making them in May of 2012 and then stopped distributing them to financial institutions on February 4, 2013. The official word is that it was no longer cost-effective to make them. However, I believe that it was done in an effort to encourage folks to finally roll up all their thousands of pennies squirreled away in those now impossibly heavy piggy banks, cottage cheese containers and jam jars and return them to the banks. We suspect they’ve all been shipped over to Apple to be melted down into computer bits.
2. Tell the unsuspecting Americans all about Loonies and Toonies.
Ok, kids, gather round. This is genius.
Yes, we Canadians have a $1.00 coin (the loonie) and a $2.00 coin (the toonie). The loonie is so named for the image of a loon (think On Golden Pond) on the back. The toonie which came later was just naturally called that. And look how different they are! No more fumbling at the counter in abject confusion.
“Is this a $1.00 or a $2.00 bill?”
Just a quick peak and if it’s two-tone it’s a toonie, monotone it’s a loonie. Makes cents, no?
3. Why is your paper money see through?
So we can see you coming. Sorry. You think we’re all welcoming and lovely and we are but remember, we’re also shy. So we prefer a little lead in time. One peek through the bill et voila.
4. We have sales tax in most places in America, but in Canada you have PST and HST and GST and WTH (ok, not really “WTH”, but that’s what it seems like). Explain.
WTF? It’s simple to understand. Simply consult this website highlighted here.
5. Queen Elizabeth is on your money. Last I checked (okay, never), she wasn’t Canadian. What gives?
Now isn’t that an apt question for the topic? She’s the head of the common wealth. What with all those loonies and toonies we are a pretty wealthy country. So she is one of us. But it’s not all about money. Consider the fact that all the world’s Prime Ministers (our stalwart leaders), Presidents, Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Premiers, Senators, Dictators, Dog Walkers, Blog Writers, Sandwich Makers etc. tend to come and go. But not our Lilibet. No. On the throne since February of 1952 she has been my one and only Queen. I’m sorry, but it’s foolish to put the head of your country on the currency. They change all the time!
6. Why don’t you just use USD and call it a day?
Hmmm. Have to say this one threw me for a bit. Sorry. Initially I thought you were either asking me why we don’t use a parcel delivery service or a psychedelic drug. I was puzzled about the context.
The real reason we don’t use USD is simple. We’re not afraid of coloUr.
7. If you earn a dollar in Canada, then why do you cross the border as fast as you can to spend that money at the nearest Target in America?
We don’t. Not anymore. Ouch. This is painful on two fronts. One, you’ve reminded me that Target recently shut down ALL of its Canadian Targets and we now have to resume zipping across the border if a Target is within our sights. And Two, you’ve reminded me that our cherished Loonie is a weensy bit peaked at present. As in not feeling especially plump. Last time I checked, one of your greenbacks was worth 120 of our former pennies. That means if I cross the border into Washington (and hopefully not crash through the border on the way back into Canada) and buy a $1.00 US item at Target it REALLY cost me $1.20.
So, I’m sorry but this question is not only painful but it’s not really on the money these days.
Sorry if I’ve been a bit rude. Don’t mean to be. Care for a glug of maple syrup?
8. Do the beavers and polar bears use the same money as the Mounties?
No. The beavers only use our five cent coin, the nickel.
And the polar bears use the toonie.
and, though you didn’t ask, sorry, the moose use our 25 cent coin, the quarter.
The Mounties are welcome to use any currency they wish although they tend to favour hay. The first choice of their horses.
And there you have it! Thank you, Kelly, for helping us bumbling Americans make sense of your giant cents and colorful, dare I say kindergartenish, paper bills. Dear Readers, have you been to Canada? Do you know where it is? Have you ever seen a Mountie? Ever come back to the U.S.A. with $30 in coins by mistake because, you know, you thought you had some nickels and dimes and not 10-20 loonies and toonies?! Do tell!
I lived in Toronto for three years and loved it! I wish the US would implement dollar and two dollar coins. They were handy!
See! They are handy aren’t they? And some folks dismiss them as heavy. Pfffft.
Kelly L McKenzie recently posted…Helping Americans Make Cents
I got used to them when I lived there, but now when I visit I easily forget that I have $16 in my coin pouch!
WOW! After this hard hitting interview, Canadian money makes just as much sense as it did before!! LOL! All I know is that if we got rid of pennies, I could pay my youngest his allowance anymore! He’s only four so lots of coin impress him. It doesn’t matter which kind!
Rabia @TheLiebers recently posted…10 Completely Random Things About Me #TuesdayTen
Ooo, we should have Kelly send your son all of Canada’s pennies!
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…The Surprising Truth about Canada, Part II
Yes! Brilliant suggestion, Katy. I’m on it. Remember that scene in The Santa Clause where the zillion Fed Ex trucks deliver the Naughty and Nice lists to new Santa? Get ready, Rabia. They’re coming your way next …
Kelly L McKenzie recently posted…Helping Americans Make Cents
My experience with Canadian money consists of the occasional instance when I’ll get change from a cashier, and a Canadian penny is in there. I didn’t know you don’t use them anymore…should I have held onto mine? It might be worth a loonie or toonie.
Dana recently posted…I may be too thin-skinned for blogging
Psssst … You didn’t hear it from me, Dana, BUT you can pass off more than the odd penny as one of yours. OR, better yet, fire them off to Rabia. Her 4 year-old would love them. No point saving them. You’d need 120 of them to make one American dollar today …
Kelly l m kenzie recently posted…Helping Americans Make Cents
See? Read Kelly’s comment. Not only is she Canadian, but brilliant to boot! 🙂
But speaking of getting Canadian coins, how come vending machines in the U.S. are so smart they won’t accept Canadian quarters? I’ve always thought that was pretty amazing. And a bummer.
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…The Surprising Truth about Canada, Part II
Very clever indeed! Our vending machines went on a hissy fit strike a few years back when new Loonies were made. They refused to accept them and spat them out with loony regularity. But it wasn’t only vending machines! Parking meters too! Something about the new weight that they didn’t like. I wonder if they’d have accepted American coins then? Hmmm …,
Kelly l m kenzie recently posted…Helping Americans Make Cents
Thank you girls, it’s so much fun learning about the weird and the wonderful coins of other countries and what they’re called. Here in Oz, before we went decimal on Valentine’s Day in 1966, we had wonderful names for money – a “zac” = 6-pence (now 5 cents) a “trey” or threepence (no equivalent in decimal) two-bob or two shillings or florin = 20 cents now, a “Dinar” or one shilling = 10 cents now. Originally when decimal currency (or as we called it “Dismal Guernsey”) first came in, we had 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent coins and 1 and 2 dollar notes (as well as lots of other pretty paper notes – most of which I never saw). We got rid of the 1 and 2 cent coins in 1992. The one and two dollar paper notes vanished in 1984 and 1988 respectively. If you want to learn all about our currency you can find it here… http://www.ramint.gov.au/designs/ram-designs/2c.cfm
Something that I didn’t know until I looked it up just now, was that our money was produced in different places and not just the Royal Mint in Canberra. Some of our money was produced in Wales at the RMLL or, more properly, the Royal Mint, Llantrisant. In fact, in 1981 it produced 40.3 million one-cent coins and 70.8 million two-cent coins. I wonder what happened to them.
Sorry I can’t offer you a glug of maple syrup, but I do have some Vegemite if you’re interested 😀
Thank you for this amazing information on Aussie dough! I’ll pass on the vegemite, sorry. I lived in Oz for a year back in the early 90s on one of those study abroad gigs in college. While it was the time of my life, my cruel Aussie friends told me spread the vegemite on my toast like I would peanut butter. I can hear you laughing! A thin spread does it, right? Not 2 TBSP!! Thanks, friends. Ah, college.
Oh Lyn thank you for your Oz currency update. And the offer of the Vegemite. I’ll pass as well thank you. And if you wish to counter with a Marmite offer I’ll pass on that as well. Thank you very much. Nope. Not happening. Katy, I am cringing here picturing you slathering on the Veg like peanut butter. 2 tbsps worth? Ouch. And I thought my pals were loonie …
Kelly L McKenzie recently posted…Helping Americans Make Cents
LOL usually a favourite thing is to tell visiting Americans to put a dab of Vegemite behind their ears to protect them from the “Drop Bears” that live in the gum trees 😀 2TBSP? Oh my, I wouldn’t even put that much in a huge pot of stew.
I was just telling my 11-year-old son about Drop bears!! He didn’t believe me.
What a team!! I can’t wait to see what is next in this enlightening series! As I mentioned on Kelly’s site, I see a Diplomatic Exchange Program and possible Nobel Peace Prize in the future for you gals!
Last week when I was at Legoland, my nephews and I noted all the lovely two-toned coins among the pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters that guests had thrown into every single pool of water around the park. Now I know they were Toonies!!!
And, I love that the website designed to explain all of your taxes includes the disclaimer that the rates can change at any time and, in fact, may have changed since the site was last updated. As an accountant, I find this kind of humoUr hilarious.
Mo at Mocadeaux recently posted…Legoland, California
Thank you, Mo! I’ll be expecting a call from the Nobel peace people shortly. I’m so happy we could enlighten you about those beautiful toonies tossed in the fountain at Legoland. Now I’m off to work on my blog disclaimer: you know, something about how I can change my mind at anytime and don’t necessarily, but maybe I, do mean what I say. I’m going to consult that tax website for help.
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…The Surprising Truth about Canada, Part II
Yay! So glad to have been able to clear up the two tone issue, Mo! That is quite a donation by the way. I think I’d be tempted to bring down my pennies and toss those puppies in. If I had any left, of course. They are apparently all winging over to Rabia’s place as we speak …
As for the Nobel, well, thank you. A lovely concept. Except for one thing. It would mean new shoes. Accckkkk. Do you have any left over from your “bunion days?” I’m a 7.
Kelly L McKenzie recently posted…Helping Americans Make Cents
Another round of brilliant questions and insightful answers. All I have to say is that any country who actually uses color on their paper money and has amusing names for their coins is most definitely a friend of mine. How come those of us on this side of the border got dealt the boring fuddy-duddy crew in charge of designing our moola?
Deborah Weber recently posted…Fool: M is for…
Deborah, excellent point! Maybe that’s why Canadians are so friendly and polite. It’s their colorful money making their lives more cheerful.
Yes! Lovely to be appreciated for our love of coloUr. Years ago I was a contestant on the Price Is Right. It was being filmed in Vancouver, BC but of course it’s an American show so we got paid in American dollars. The money was fake but man did it look like the real thing. If it was Canadian, I like to think we could just be paid in monopoly bucks …
Kelly L McKenzie recently posted…Helping Americans Make Cents
Wow, the more you know! How have I lived my whole life without knowing about toonies and loonies? I jaunt far more often to the Mexican side of the border, but now I am ready for a visit to my northern friends!
Jen recently posted…Mommy Reality #34: If I Had One More Hour Per Day