Canadian bank apologises for racist bank note

The Bank of Canada has apologised for a bank note critics deemed racist.

The controversial Canadian C$100 note which depicts and an Asian woman looking through a microscope. Picture: Flickr.

Eyewitness News | 2073 days ago

OTTAWA - In an unusual move, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney apologised on Monday for bank note changes that prompted critics to accuse the central bank of racism.

The initial design for the new C$100 (R838.20) note featured a picture of an Asian woman looking through a microscope, but this was scrapped after focus groups expressed concern Asians should not be the only ethnic group represented.

When the bill was released into circulation last year, the Asian woman had been removed and replaced by a woman who looked to be Caucasian, prompting complaints from Chinese groups and media commentators.

In the bank's first formal apology in nearly a decade, Carney said the Bank had never intended bank notes to feature people who represented only one ethnic group.

"I apologise to those who were offended. The Bank's handling of this issue did not meet the standards Canadians justifiably expect of us," he said in a statement.

"We will be reviewing our design process in light of these events. Our bank notes belong to all Canadians."

The issue of minorities is sensitive in Canada, which has a sizeable Chinese population.

Carney said the image shown to focus groups had been photoshopped from a picture of a South Asian woman.

The last time a Bank of Canada Governor issued a statement of apology was in October 2003, when David Dodge said he had wrongly attributed US growth forecasts to then Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.

More in World

Comments

EWN welcomes all comments that are constructive, contribute to discussions in a meaningful manner and take stories forward.

However, we will NOT condone the following:

- Racism (including offensive comments based on ethnicity and nationality)
- Sexism
- Homophobia
- Religious intolerance
- Cyber bullying
- Hate speech
- Derogatory language
- Comments inciting violence.

We ask that your comments remain relevant to the articles they appear on and do not include general banter or conversation as this dilutes the effectiveness of the comments section.

We strive to make the EWN community a safe and welcoming space for all.

EWN reserves the right to: 1) remove any comments that do not follow the above guidelines; and, 2) ban users who repeatedly infringe the rules.

Should you find any comments upsetting or offensive you can also flag them and we will assess it against our guidelines.

EWN is constantly reviewing its comments policy in order to create an environment conducive to constructive conversations.

Canadian bank apologises for racist bank note

Timeline

Toronto police eye deadly van attack suspect's 'cryptic message'

Driver kills 10, injures 15 plowing van into Toronto sidewalk crowd

Canada to deploy hundreds of personnel for peacekeeping in Mali

Court to hand down judgment in Gupta plane grounding case

Comments

Choose an EWN Twitter account

Choose an EWN app