The Bank of Canada has announced that the portrait of  Sir Wilfred Laurier will remain on the Canadian five dollar bill. You probably didn’t realize he was on it.

The decision comes as a surprise in a way. The government had announced their intention to remove Sir Wilfred and had circulated a list of eight possible replacements – most of whom I had never heard of.

Changing the design of Canadian bills is not a new thing. It happens every few years primarily to help prevent counterfeiting.

Which explains why Canada’s founding Prime Minister, Sir John A MacDonald, was removed from the ten dollar bill, replaced by civil rights activist Viola Desmond. Not necessarily the choice I would have made, but I care more about what I can spend my money on than the pictures on it.

It is interesting to note though that Macdonald’s portrait a was replaced very quickly from a place he had held for decades. The process only took a couple of years. Despite being placed on the chopping block more than three years ago, Laurier has apparently survived the cut – at least for now.

I’m sure it had nothing to do with the fact that our founding Prime Minister led the Conservative Party, while Sir Wilfred Laurier was a Liberal, just like the present Prime Minister.

The Bank of Canada is independent of the government, but has been subject to much criticism lately from Conservatives. Was dumpin the country’s founder while keeping the guy he defeated in the 1891 election a subtle political statement?

The Bank couldn’t be that petty. Could it?