Finance Minister Bill Morneau says it's time to put women on banknotes

Finance Minister Bill Morneau says he is open to adding a famous woman or women to Canadian banknotes.

There are no Canadianwomen on the current series of polymer bank notes, but theLiberal government'sfinance minister says he supports adding a female face to the currency.

"The Bank of Canada regularly does consultations on the people and the pictures that are on our banknotes," Morneausaid Wednesday while speaking to reporters in Toronto.

"I can say that I would be strongly supportive of a recommendation from the Bank of Canada to put an iconic woman or women on the banknote."

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The current series of polymer banknotes, some ofwhich have been in circulation since2011, does feature the Queen's image on the $20 bill.

Theprevious series also includedimages of the Famous Five, who fought for women's rights in Canada, and Therese Casgrain, a Quebec feminist.

They were all replaced on the $50 note by an image of an Arctic icebreaker.

Stephen Poloz, the governor of the Bank of Canada, said in 2013 that he was open to the idea of returning women to the money, but said there willbe no changes until the next major redesign.

"It is what it is today. We are engaged as you know, in thinking about the next series, which is a multi-year project, and we're open to all suggestions from all Canadians," Poloz said at the time.

A petition circulating onlinewith some 65,000 signaturescalls for the country's top banker to act now to correct that they call an injustice.

"It is unacceptable that female historical figures are not featuredon the polymer series or another series just male prime ministers and the Queen," part of the petition reads.

The removal of women from the money was done under the leadership of Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of Canada.

Ironically, the Bank of England, which Carney now heads, announced in 2013 thatauthor Jane Austenwould beon its10 note.

Austen, author of classics likePride and Prejudice,Sense and SensibilityandEmma, will replace biologist Charles Darwin on the10 note when the switch rolls outin the coming months.