# New Canadian Passport? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 14, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-canadian-passport/984043 "2023-05-14T22:14:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-canadian-passport/984043/1 "2023-05-14T22:14:00Z")
Canada recently redesigned its passport and some people are upset since they allegedly replaced images of things deemed of national importance (Vimy Ridge, Terry Fox, The Bluenose) with “post national” images of animals and mundane activities (raking leaves). Some compare the new images unfavourably to powerpoint stock photos. I haven’t seen the new passport. I might not have been able to tell you all of the meaningful images the current passport uses. I won’t spend much time thinking about it. Any change would cause some complaint, and stereotyping a complex nation in short vignettes is only of moderate use and misses much. But it is also history and human achievement, and it seems disrespectful in general to dispose of all of that - when deemed somewhat inconvenient or irrelevant or whatever post-nationalism might mean. Canada needs more identity, not less. If there is an argument for promoting Canadian content, surely that is part of it. Is this part of a disturbing trend, or something basically trivial? Not every Canadian plays hockey or eats donuts, but some things still matter too. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2023, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-canadian-passport/984043/2 "2023-05-14T22:50:56Z")
When did they first put those images in the passports? 2013, I think. We managed to do without them for a long time. Do we really need potted history lessons on passports, money, etc.? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2023, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-canadian-passport/984043/3 "2023-05-14T22:51:46Z")
I’m not Canadian but who cares who or what is portrayed on the passports? Who ever looks at the things? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2023, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-canadian-passport/984043/4 "2023-05-14T22:54:44Z")
Veterans care that the Vimmy Ridge memorial page was replaced by something like a snowball fight, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2023, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-canadian-passport/984043/5 "2023-05-14T22:59:27Z")
I honestly don’t greatly care about the images on the passports or money, much less statues and monuments. But I do care if it represents a broader trend and think Canadians should understand their history. Documents don’t help them do this. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2023, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-canadian-passport/984043/6 "2023-05-14T23:03:26Z")
A big part of the fuss is “culture wars” with right wing politicians playing the “national pride” card. I’m afraid I side with Brecht on this: “Unappy is the land that needs a hero.” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2023, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-canadian-passport/984043/7 "2023-05-14T23:04:31Z")
So the sort of bullshit used by right-wing American politicians has spread beyond the borders? As an American, I apologize for that. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2023, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-canadian-passport/984043/8 "2023-05-14T23:11:42Z")
I think the seeds of such politics are everywhere but only “bloom” when properly fertilized. And there are always those happy to spread such fertilizer for their own gain. As the Quebec Social Credit politician Camil Samson said when denouncing his opponents in the Union Nationale party, “Ladies and gentlemen, the Union Nationale has brought you to the edge of the abyss. With Social Credit, you will take one step forward.” ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-canadian-passport/984043/9 "2023-05-16T01:17:40Z")
I never noticed whatever was on the passport, so I won’t miss it. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-canadian-passport/984043/10 "2023-05-16T06:25:14Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > and it seems disrespectful in general to dispose of all of that - when deemed somewhat inconvenient or irrelevant or whatever post-nationalism might mean. Canada needs more identity, not less. If there is an argument for promoting Canadian content, surely that is part of it. Is this part of a disturbing trend, or something basically trivial? Not every Canadian plays hockey or eats donuts, but some things still matter too. Wait, do you honestly think nationalism originated in America? Are you also on the “Slavery was a uniquely American problem” train of thought? ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-canadian-passport/984043/11 "2023-05-18T04:30:49Z")
I suspect changing the pictures periodically is partly an anti-counterfeiting measure. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-canadian-passport/984043/12 "2023-05-19T02:30:57Z")
Of course. Maybe that is more important than the images.