It is not illegal to write on bank notes in Canada. There are
prohibitions, however, on reproducing a current Canadian bill
electronically. The question of whether it is illegal or not to write or
make markings on Canadian money came up after the death of famous actor
Leonard Nimoy. His most famous role was that of Mr. Spock in Star Trek.
Following his death, many fans around Canada began inking his features
on Canadian five dollar bills which show a portrait of Sir Wilfred
Laurier, Canada’s seventh prime minister.
Neither the Bank Act or the Criminal Code have dealt with the repercussions of mutilating or defacing Canadian bank notes. However, the Bank of Canada has expressed strong objections to mutilating or defacing bank notes because ultimately, writing on bank notes limits their life. The Bank of Canada is the only entity that decides when notes are to be removed from circulation and when notes have been mutilated or defaced, their lifetime comes to an end too quickly.
