bluenose boondoggle

Design date, 1937. (Wikipedia)

Conservatives are a crappy gift that keeps giving. The Bluenose II project is 'now five years behind schedule and $12.5 million over budget.' It gets worse. The contract signed in 2009 by MHPM carried no fines or penalties for delays. Cheques just flowed.

Yes, federal infrastructure stimulus.

In summer 2016, MHPM changed its name to Colliers Project Leaders (CPL). Former PMSH joined Colliers board of directors in September. Franklin Holtforster is still president. Stephen Vaslet is still vice-president in Halifax.

Article: http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1427520-bluenose-boondoggle-the-gold-plated-management-contract


On a side note -
Alex Colville did the 1967 centennial 10-cent Mackerel and the one-cent Dove.

update: mining the mint

"In 2006, for some unknown reason, non-magnetic planchets were used to produce coins with a P below the effigy of the queen."

2006P, magnetic and  non-magnetic

2006RCM, magnetic and  non-magnetic

1 cent values of circulating coins
2006     P     -    -    -    -    -    -    $ 0.01
2006     Magnetic     -    -    -    -   $ 49
2006     RCM Logo - Magnetic  - $ 0.01
2006     Non magnetic     -    -    - $ 0.01
2006     RCM Logo     -    -    -    $ 0.01
2006     P - Non magnetic     -    - 

1 cent values of uncirculating coins
2006     P     $ 0.13    $ 0.70    $ 5.80    $ 9.60    $ 20    $ 42    $ 82
2006     Magnetic     $ 80    $ 160    $ 190    $ 260    $ 420    $ 550  
2006     RCM Logo - Magnetic     $ 1.10    $ 2.40    $ 3.80    $ 6.30    $ 15    $ 40    $ 95
2006     Non magnetic     $ 0.13    $ 0.70    $ 0.95    $ 5.30    $ 14    $ 28    $ 39
2006     RCM Logo     $ 0.13    $ 0.70    $ 0.95    $ 5.70    $ 14    $ 30 
2006     P - Non magnetic     $ 100    $ 210    $ 300    $ 380    $ 480    $ 680
coinsandcanada.com

mining the mint

Copper is slumping, down 5% in the last month, due to increased inventories (doubling in three months). The mint stopped distributing pennies on February 3rd, 2013. It's Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's bid to save Canadians more money lol, since a penny was 1.6 cents. Financial institutions will get reimbursed for collecting the metal. (Prediction: banking windfall) 
One Cent Coins to look for: (1) 1953-1979, (2) 1980-1981, and (3) 1982-1996

 

Years	Mass	Diameter/Shape	Composition
2000–2012	2.35 g	19.05 mm, round	94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating
1997–1999	2.25 g	19.05 mm, round	98.4% zinc, 1.6% copper plating
1982–1996	2.5 g	19.1 mm, 12-sided	98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc
1980–1981	2.8 g	19.0 mm, round	98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc
1978–1979	3.24 g	19.05 mm, round	98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc
1942–1977	3.24 g	19.05 mm, round	98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc
1920–1941	3.24 g	19.05 mm, round	95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc
1876–1920	5.67 g	25.4 mm, round	95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc
1858–1859	4.54 g	25.4 mm, round	95% copper, 4% tin, 1% zinc (bronze)

Penny production ceased on May 4th, 2011. So far, I think I'm down 10-15 cents on penny-rounding at stores.