Canadian Conservationists Asked to Stop Their Loonie Campaign

An environmental group had been distributing decals that fit perfectly onto Canada’s $1 loonie coin for the past week, but now the Royal Canadian Mint has ordered that they cease and desist.

The Dogwood Initiative began distributing the decals in order to call attention to the government’s support of a plan that would allow oil tankers to come closer to British Columbia’s north coast. The decal effectively turned the water surrounding the loonie black to represent the damage of an oil spill.

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The cease and desist letters told the group that their decals went against trademark law and the Currency Act which limits the use of Canadian coins. If ignored, the Royal Canadian mint warns that the group could face charges and possible imprisonment.

Previously the group has said their plan did not break the law because the decals did not destroy or permanently alter the coins.

“It speaks to the issue of oil and money in Canada,” said Charles Campbell, communications director for the Dogwood Initiative. “There is something subversive about doing this to our money, but we’re quite happy to go to the edge of what’s permissible.”

The group says they’ve had a sudden spike in traffic to their NoTankers.ca website.

Photo Credit: bgilliard on Flickr under Creative Commons license.

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