加拿大的國家格言是「a mari usque ad mare」(直譯:由海至海;以下同),是拉丁文,取自《聖詠》第72章第8節,出現在國徽的底部。[40]這短語是邦聯之父之一的薩穋爾·L·蒂利所提出,原本在1906年用於沙士加芝灣省議會權杖的頂部。1921年加到國徽之上。[41]
由於加拿大面臨三個海洋(太平洋、大西洋和北冰洋),三個地區的行政首長於2006年3月提出修改格言,使之更符合加拿大實際的地理特徵[42]。其中兩種建議為「A mari ad mare ad mare」(由海至海至海)和「A mari usque ad maria」(由海至眾海)[43][44]。但格言至今尚無改動。
加拿大國徽受當地的商標法(Trade-marks Act)保護,當中規定:「禁止把加拿大在任何時候使用的紋章、飾章或旗幟或類似圖案用於商業用途」("No person shall adopt in connection with a business, as a trade-mark or otherwise, any mark consisting of, or so nearly resembling as to be likely to be mistaken for,... the arms, crest or flag adopted and used at any time by Canada...") [46]
^英語原文為:「Tierced in fesse the first and second divisions containing the quarterly coat following, namely, 1st Gules three lions passant guardant in pale or, 2nd, Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory-counter-flory gules, 3rd, Azure a harp or stringed argent, 4th, Azure, three fleurs-de-lis or, and the third division Argent three maple leaves conjoined on one stem proper. And upon a Royal helmet mantled argent doubled gules the Crest, that is to say, On a wreath of the colours argent and gules a lion passant guardant or imperially crowned proper and holding in the dexter paw a maple leaf gules. And for Supporters On the dexter a lion rampant or holding a lance argent, point or, flying therefrom to the dexter the Union Flag, and on the sinister A unicorn argent armed crined and unguled or, gorged with a coronet composed of crosses-patée and fleurs-de-lis a chain affixed thereto reflexed of the last, and holding a like lance flying therefrom to the sinister a banner azure charged with three fleurs-de-lis or; the whole ensigned with the Imperial Crown proper and below the shield upon a wreath composed of roses, thistles, shamrocks and lillies a scroll azure inscribed with the motto A mari usque ad mare.」
^Bruce M. Hicks. Use of Non-Traditional Evidence: A case study using heraldry to examine competing theories for Canada's Confederation. British Journal of Canadian Studies 43 (1), pp.87-117. 2010. ISSN 0269-9222.
^Symbols of Canada(PDF). Canadian Heritage: 6. 2008 [20 November 2008]. (原始内容存档(PDF)于2014-11-07).
^Swann, Conrad. Chapter I, Arms of dominion and sovereignty and public authority. Canada Symbols of Sovereignty: An investigation of the arms and seals borne from the earliest times to the present in connection with public authority in and over Canada. along with consideration of some connected flags. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
^Hicks, Bruce. The Campaign to Change the Royal Arms of Canada (Hogtown Heraldry 12:4).