In Canada, motor vehicle licence plates are issued by the transportation department in each province and territory. Since 2002, most provinces and territories have introduced special licence plates for veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces or other allied militaries.[1] The only territory that does not have a veteran licence plate is Nunavut.[2] Common design features of these veteran licence plate include the image of a red poppy or the word "veteran".[3] Only veteran licence plates issued by the Northwest Territories do not have any of the features mentioned above.[2]
Introduction dates
edit| Province/Territory | Date of Introduction | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | February 15, 2005 | $5.00 |
| British Columbia | June 4, 2004 | $5.00 |
| Manitoba | November 5, 2004 | $5.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | September 2, 2003 | $5.00 |
| New Brunswick | November 1, 2003 | $5.00 |
| Northwest Territories | June 2004 | $5.00 |
| Nova Scotia | November 7, 2002 | $5.00 |
| Ontario | November 9, 2003 | $5.00 |
| Prince Edward Island | 2003 | $5.00 |
| Quebec | January 1, 2006 | $5.00 |
| Saskatchewan | November 10, 2004 | $5.00 |
| Yukon | November 10, 2004 | $5.00 |
Ontario
editIn Ontario, the Ministry of Transportation issued 27,000 veteran licence plates since 2003.[3] Veterans can order a special licence plate with the format "000 VET" for display or gift purposes.
Québec
editAs of the 4th of May 2009, Québec now offers a veteran motorcycle plate.
Alberta
editIn Alberta, 15,750 veteran licence plates have been issued since 2005.[4]
Appearance
edit| Province/Territory | Image | Serial format | First issued | Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | 
|
123VAB | 2004 | A red poppy superimposed onto a black and white photograph of a soldier on the left and the word "Veteran" on the top of the licence plate |
| Alberta | 
|
VAB 123 | 2005 | A red poppy superimposed onto a red maple leaf on the left and the word "Veteran" at the bottom of the licence plate |
| Saskatchewan | 
|
V1234 | 2004 | A red poppy superimposed onto a black and white photograph of a soldier's monument on the left and the word "Veteran" at the bottom of the licence plate |
| Manitoba |
|
VAB 123 | 2004 | A red poppy is in the middle of the gap between the alphanumeric and the word "Veteran" at the bottom of the licence plate |
| Ontario | 
|
1V2345 | 2003 | A red poppy and the word "Veteran" are on the left hand side of the licence plate |
| Quebec | 
|
001 PAA through 999 PCZ (normal format) | 2006 | One version of the plate has a slight beige tint. A male and female soldier are looking to the left while the back of their heads fade into a poppy field. A red poppy is seen on the bottom left beside the standard "Je me souviens". To the left of the word "Québec" and the fleur-de-lys, the word "Vétérans" is written in red. Another version of the plate has a red poppy in the space between the numbers and letters. |
| Nova Scotia |
|
ABC12 | 2002 | A Canadian flag on the left and the word "Veteran" at the bottom of the licence plate |
| New Brunswick | 
|
WA123 | 2003 | A red poppy on the left and the words "Veteran / Ancien combattant" at the bottom of the licence plate |
|
|
WAB01 | 2021 | Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial with red poppy to the left of serial | |
| Prince Edward Island |
|
VT1 234 | 2003 | A red poppy superimposed onto the red maple leaf at the bottom left corner, a Canadian flag in the middle of the gap between the alphanumeric, and the word "Veteran" at the bottom of the licence plate |
| Newfoundland and Labrador |
|
ABC 123 | 2003 | A Canadian flag and the word "Veteran" at the bottom of the licence plate. The HHB, HJL, HJM, HJN and HJO letter series are set aside for veteran plates. |
| Yukon |
|
1234 | 2004 | A red poppy, the word "Veteran", and the phrase "Lest we forget" are on the right side of the licence plate |
| Northwest Territories | .jpg)
|
VET 123 | 2004 | The border and the text of the licence plate is red (contrary to the normally blue licence plate) |
Eligibility
editThe licence plates are available to those who served as a member of Canadian Forces, the Commonwealth of Nations, or its wartime allies. People who served on North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) missions, peacekeeping missions as members of the Canadian Forces or United Nations forces, or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are also eligible.[5] They need to provide a Canadian Forces Certificate of Service and a Canadian Forces Identification Card as proof of service. Those who have served three years (may still be serving) can also apply.
In British Columbia, veterans who operate trucks, vans, and motorcycle are also eligible to obtain a veteran licence plate in that province.[6]
In New Brunswick, reservists who formerly served must provide acceptable documentation displaying at least 3 years of service for Canada to be eligible for Veteran status plates.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b "Veteran Licence Plates from across Canada". Retrieved 2007-11-12.
- ^ a b A. Knight. "Canada's Licence Plates". Retrieved 2007-11-12. [dead link]
- ^ a b "Ontario Honours Veterans". Government of Ontario. 2007-11-06. Retrieved 2007-11-12. [dead link]
- ^ Jason Markusoff. "Albertans asked about licence plates". The Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
- ^ "Veteran Plate Eligibility Certification". Ministry of Transportation, Government of Ontario. 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
- ^ "Veterans' Licence Plate Program Expanded". Government of British Columbia. 2004-11-05. Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
- ^ "NB Veterans' Licence Plate Program" (PDF). Legion New Brunswick Command. 2020-08-24. Retrieved 2020-08-24.