Canadians are going to get a whole new series of bank notes beginning next year, as the Bank of Canada steps up its fight against counterfeit bills.

The central bank says photocopiers, printers, and scanners are becoming more sophisticated, making it easier to manufacture fake copies of the country's paper currency.

The new notes will incorporate a number of new security features, including a "tactile feature"-- raised markings that will make it easier for blind and visually-impaired people to recognize different denominations.

Besides the enhanced security features, the new notes will have new designs and new portraits of either the Queen or former prime ministers. But the existing dominant colours will be maintained.

The Bank isn't saying what the new designs will be, other than to say the birds that are now on the backs will vanish.

The first note to be changed will be the $10 bill. A re-designed "sawbuck" will debut in January 2001. A new $5 bill will follow later in the year. New $20, $50, and $100 notes will be introduced over the next two or three years.

In May, the Bank of Canada began withdrawing the $1000-bill from circulation as part of the fight against money laundering.

Counterfeiting cost Canadians about $4 million last year-- a fraction of the $32 billion in circulation as paper currency. But the central bank is clearly worried that rapid advances in reproduction technology require an upgrade to its existing security features.