Albertans can now vote for one of eight different license plate designs, as the provincial government revealed its plan to introduce new license plates starting next year.
A tournament-style voting pool and details of the designs were revealed at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
All new designs will include the motto “Strong and Free,” which is Alberta’s motto.
“The inclusion of the motto on the license plate will also serve as a nod to Canada’s national anthem and Alberta’s position as a strong, sovereign province within a united Canada,” said Premier Danielle Smith.
Residents can visit a page on the province’s website and vote for their favorite design until Nov. 5.
The design options feature different landscapes and some feature pumps and jeans.
“The images are more than decoration: they are a celebration of Alberta’s natural beauty and our shared identity,” Smith said.
“These are things we think about when we close our eyes and think about Alberta and what it means to be an Albertan.”
strong and free
Both Smith and Alberta Service Minister Dale Nally faced questions at the news conference about whether the inclusion of the slogan was politically motivated, with reporters noting that the slogan is used on the United Conservative Party’s official website.
“It’s our provincial motto. Let’s not be shy about it,” Nally said.
“It is also in the [national] anthem, and let us remember that when the King of England was here a few months ago giving the throne speech in Ottawa, he mentioned the words strong and free. Therefore, there is no political ideology that owns the idea of being strong and free.”
Smith said the motto is “neutral language” and that it was strange that the motto was not already being used on the license plates.
Nally said his ministry did not receive additional funding to reform the design of provincial license plates. He said the cost is being absorbed by his current budget.
Nally said he expected “implementation costs” for the new plates to be between $25,000 and $50,000.
The current Alberta license plate design, which reads “Wild Rose Country,” has been used for decades and features the provincial flower. All of the new designs Albertans can vote on still feature a wild rose.
In a news release issued Wednesday, the province said any Albertan who wants to replace their current license plate with one with the new design when it launches can voluntarily pay a $28 fee to do so.
“Alternatively, Albertans could obtain a new plate on their vehicle’s registration renewal date at no additional cost,” the news release says. “Motorists can also continue using the old plate once the new plate is brought on board, as long as it is still in good condition.”
