as early as 1967, plans were reportedly in the works to transfer overview of heraldry from the college of arms in the uk to canada. the push for a wholly canadian heraldic system came largely from the heraldry society of canada (now the royal heraldry society of canada) almost from its inception, though it was not seen as a priority by successive national governments. in 1986, vicki huntington, a politician from british columbia, forwarded a brief written by the royal heraldry society of canada calling for the creation of the canadian heraldic authority to a staff member in then-secretary of state david crombie's office. mr. crombie had his department organise a meeting in ottawa the following year, to which many national and international heraldic experts were invited. the meeting concluded with "a strong recommendation to government that an authority be created."