The Royal Canadian Mint has sent a legal warning to a B.C. environmental group not to deface the loonie.

The Dogwood Initiative has urged people to attach “notanker” decals to loonies to register their opposition to a proposed pipeline across north-central B.C.

This week’s Georgia Straight cover story focused on the project, which would carry oil from the Alberta oilsands to Kitimat. From there, it would be transported by tankers via Douglas Channel to Asia.

“Ultimately, the notanker decals can be removed by a flick of the finger and the loonies brought back to their former selves,” the Dogwood Institute claimed in a notice to its supporters today. “The same can’t be said of an oil spill on our coast.”

The Royal Canadian Mint, however, maintains in its letter that Section 11 of the Currency Act bans the use of coins for any reason other than as currency.

“Contravention of this section of the Currency Act can lead to liability on summary conviction to a fine and or imprisonment,” the mint’s legal counsel, Kathryn Reynolds, wrote.

So far, that hasn't dissuaded the Dogwood Initiative. "The Royal Canadian Mint has asked us to cease and desist and has accused us of violating the currency act, but we think we are on the right side of the law," it stated.