Museum debate healthy
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's announcement to create the Canadian Museum for Human Rights as a federal museum opened the floodgates of possibility for our province -- not to mention millions of additional dollars in donations. As evidenced by Wednesday's Free Press poll results and the countless Manitobans who have already donated and volunteered, people widely support this museum. No doubt, Manitoba will reap many social and economic benefits over the next few decades as the result of this museum. Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights applauds the visionary members of the boards of Manitoba Hydro, MPI, MLCC and MLC who see the possibility for Manitoba and recognize the unique door of opportunity the Government of Canada has opened. We were in the midst of planning public announcements with them (around busy schedules) when news of the donations broke out alluding to "secrecy." How unfortunate and how untrue!Teams of volunteers, donors, staff members of Friends, including us, have worked hard over the past several months to prepare and present business cases, answer questions, and provide information to the boards and staff of these Crown agencies to educate them on the merits of the project and cultivate their support. In turn, they have been extremely thoughtful and thorough in their deliberations, taking time to consider, perhaps, all the inputs as well as the benefits and consequences -- not wanting to rush to a decision for obvious reasons. This decision-making process has taken several months, yet seems to have been publicly dismissed and disregarded.
Public discourse is healthy and we should all welcome it and participate in it. Freedom of speech is, in fact, one of the reasons for which we are creating this museum. It is important, however, that the discourse includes all the information and it is our hope that this letter might help clear the air surrounding these decisions.
Gail Asper, Campaign Chair
Fred de Koning, President
Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights
PREVIOUS
