I see the lions of England, the lion of Scotland, the fleur de lis of France [i.e. Quebec], the shamrocks of Ireland...and isn't the harp also Ireland?? But what happened to the dragon of Wales?
Interestingly, it's not quite the same, but very similar to the British Arms after James VI, which has all the elements, but changes the divisions to England in the upper corner and France to the lower corner, rather then divided into eights as his arms were.
It represents the Canadian heritage of England, Scotland, Ireland in English Canada, and France with the Fleur de lis for Quebec.
A similar reference is to "Thistle, Shamrock, Rose, entwined." The standard imagery for English Canada has always been between the English, Scots and Irish.
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