Numicanada.com

But last week’s federal budget proposes changes to the mint’s mandate to “align its activities with the government’s objective of ensuring a cost-effective supply of coins for Canadians.”

Finance spokesman Jack Aubry confirmed in an email that the changes will “clarify that the mint’s mandate to mint coins in anticipation of profit does not extend to the production of Canadian circulation coins.”

Economist Aubry, who is not related to the Finance Department spokesman, said he suspects the mint could be asked to re-evaluate staff salaries, pensions and benefits in order to produce and distribute coins at a lower cost.