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Ditch the penny – yea or nay?

Canadian Penny  20100526Canada’s getting rid of the penny, and all I can say is it’s about blooming time.

I’ve experienced what I consider two sides of fiscal portability – one year in France, and two years in New Zealand.  In 2004 France, post-franc, the euro coin existed as 1 centime, 2 centimes, 5 centimes, 10 centimes, 20 centimes, 50 centimes, 1 euro, and 2 euros.  And that’s just coins. I don’t know about you, but that’s just ridiculous.

Then three years ago, I went to New Zealand.  10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cent, 1 dollar, and 2 dollars.  That’s it.  So much easier on the wallet, and less of a headache at the cashier.

So the news that Canada will soon be ditching the penny, reducing the number of coins to five (nickel, dime, quarter, loonie, and toonie – that’s one and two dollar coins to any neighbours down south), came as very, very welcome.  I hate the penny.  It adds nothing but trouble.  It weighs down my wallet.  And according to the government, who announced this measure as part of federal budget cuts, it cost 60% more to make the stupid coin than it’s worth.

In this matter, I’m not afflicted by nostalgia.  Nope.  Bye-bye, penny.

Would you miss the penny if it disappeared?

– Jean AAR

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