bcholmes | Fauxpology on our “non-ethnic” $100 Bill

The Bank of Canada apologized Monday for the removal of an image of an “Asian-looking” woman from its design for new $100 bank notes.

Governor Mark Carney said in a statement the bank will review the design process that led to the image being removed.

“I apologize to those who were offended — the Bank’s handling of this issue did not meet the standards Canadians justifiably expect of us,” he said.

“Our bank notes belong to all Canadians, and the work we do at the Bank is for all Canadians.”

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The Chinese Canadian National Council, who last week decried the move as “racist,” had mixed responses to the apology within their ranks.

Victor Wong, national director of the CCNC, called the apology a “win-win” at a Monday afternoon press conference.

Wong said he spoke to Carney on the phone Monday and offered to help with the review process. He said he is hopeful the bank will change their policy to reflect the diversity of Canada.

“Even if you look at the $5 bill, you have kids playing hockey. You go to any neighbourhood and you’ll see Sikh kids playing hockey,” he said.

But May Lui, director of the CCNC’s Toronto chapter, called Carney’s statement a “non-apology.”

“Saying, ‘I apologize to those who were offended’ is not really an apology,” she said. “There’s a larger systemic issue around how the Bank of Canada imagines who they are portraying as a real or genuine Canadian.”

- “Bank of Canada apologizes for ‘Asian-looking’ woman debacle”, Toronto Star

Mirrored from Under the Beret.