Tories promise decision on funding for Inuit Art Centre before new year

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This article was published 06/12/2017 (3156 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The government of Premier Brian Pallister will announce by Dec. 31 how much money it will give to the Inuit Art Centre project at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

“I will have an answer for you by the end of the year,” Sports, Culture and Heritage MInister Cathy Cox told reporters Wednesday.

Former NDP premier Greg Selinger promised $15 million to the project a little more than two years ago. The Pallister government had promised the WAG a decision on funding by the end of August.

Cox pointed out that she was only appointed to the portfolio Aug. 17. “It takes some time to catch up,” she said. “We want to look at all projects through the same lens.”

In the house, New Democrat Ted Marcelino demanded Cox say yes or no to funding.

Cox responded that it’s the third time Marcelino has asked that same question, which prompted several NDP members to heckle that it was also the third time she had refused to answer.

NDP leader Wab Kinew noted that, “To say they’ll let the announcement come out during the holidays seems odd. Sounds like a cut.”

WAG director and CEO Stephen Borys couldn’t be reached Wednesday afternoon.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca