Support for Museums (March 11)
Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Royal Alberta Museum has been missing in action, on hiatus, mothballed, something.
We’ve had a new plan, and that was put on hold. Then a second, downsized plan, and that was put on hold. And then the persistent rumours of two museums, neither of which has been built. My questions are to the Minister of Culture and Community Spirit. Clearly, the budget does not contain infrastructure money for new museums, but Albertans would like to know what is wrong. Why has our museum been sidetracked for so long, well before the recession hit us?
Mr. Blackett: Well, Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, whether we’re talking one site or two sites, it is a significant amount of money that we’re looking at to be able to put forward. Given the current economic circumstances we don’t have in our budget or in our capital plan the ability to finance a $250 million facility.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Blakeman: Yeah, but you mothballed these before the recession. Back to the same minister. Given that in 1997 the Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture replaced the pioneer exhibit and, aside from travelling exhibits, we’ve had no permanent exhibit of nonaboriginal history, when will it be replaced or a new exhibit be established?
Mr. Blackett: Well, Mr. Speaker, when the financial situation is such that we have the ability to move forward, then we’ll be able to do so.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Blakeman: Thank you. Can the minister tell us the timeline for restoring funding for the three provincial archivists that the Glenbow Museum in Calgary was forced to lay off in the fall? These are critical staff for a museum.
Mr. Blackett: Well, Mr. Speaker, first of all, the Glenbow Museum is a private institution. It’s not one that’s funded by our government. What we do fund is our collection and the maintenance of our collection. Other than that, the Glenbow is a private institution, and they have to respond to their financial situations like anybody else.
Alberta Hansard, March 11, 2010