The Canadian 2 dollar coin, commonly called the toonie, was introduced on February 19, 1996 by Public Works minister Diane Marleau.
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Jack Iyerak Anawak, Member of Parliament from Nunatsiaq, Nunavut, suggested the name Nanuq nanook, polar bear in honour of Canada's Inuit people and their northern culture; however, this culturally meaningful proposal went largely unnoticed beside the popular "toonie".