Carolyn Bertram says artifactory too important for Island heritage to become election prize.
The Guardian Feb 14, 2007
The provincial government's plans to relocate the provincial artifactory to Premier Pat Binns' riding without a business plan or consultation process is irresponsible, says Liberal MLA Carolyn Bertram.
"In May of 2006, the government was saying that it did not have the money for a new facility to house the 80,000 artifacts the province owns," said Bertram.
"Then a few months later it has bought the land in the premier's riding Bertram and is relocating the provincial artifactory without so much as a financial plan or consultative process."
Bertram was highly critical of the Conservative government's efforts to run the project through the Northumberland Community Development Corporation to make it appear as if this is a community-driven initiative.
"Pat Binns can try all he wants to make this initiative look like it is a project run by the Northumberland Community Development Corporation.
"At the end of the day, it is Island taxpayers that are. paying for his desire to build a monument to himself in his own riding. The province bought the land and handed it over to this group. The province is also on the hook for a portion of the $4 million in construction costs."
Bertram said an artifactory is too important to P.E.I's heritage to become a political prize for Binns and the Conservatives' to wave around at election time.
She said a Liberal government would, faciliate dialogue within the Island community to support heritage development on Prince Edward Island.
"We believe in working together with a community-driven committee and developing an plan of action over the next two years, which could lend itself to reaching the goal of a Provincial Museum."
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