[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

the fact that the penny is not made with just copper, but other metal(s) as well only increases the number of industries potentially affected by the penny. So it's the copper industry and zinc or nickel or whatever. I would hazard a guess that most of those industries and jobs are in Ontario. If true, then it could be a political hot potato.

Again, those industries are all going to be MUCH bigger than what is supplied to the Mint.

I'm guessing that not building 1 bridge probalby has a larger impact on those mining industries than getting rid of the penny.

1.4 billion pennies were produced last year, so what do they weigh? 1 gram?

So that's 1400 tons of copper (assuming that pennies are 100% copper, which they aren't)
Considering Canada's production of copper is something like 600 000 tonnes a year, so even if pennies were 100% copper then the dip in that industry would be ~ .2% I think the industry could handle it. I'm also guessing that the iron in the pennies would have a similar effect.