Eastern Graphic - March 21, 2007
JANET MACLEOD
The provincial artifactory is still headed for Murray River, even though some members of the heritage community and the public are upset at the decision.
"We haven’t changed any plans so far," said Jamie Richards, chair of the Northumberland Community Development Corporation.
And, neither has Premier Pat Binns, who lives in the Belfast/Murray River Riding.
"That decision was made some time ago," said Premier Binns on Monday.
At recent public heritage meetings held by the Institute of Island Studies, the general consensus was there should be a moratorium on moving the artifactory to Murray River until a review of the decision takes place.
"The collection is the heart and soul of a museum. It belongs with it," Dr Ann Howatt told the 15 people at the St Peter’s public meeting on Tuesday, March 13.
Premier Binns does not agree that the artifactory should be centrally located with the museum.
"The need for a provincial museum is a separate need from the artifactory," he said.
"The important thing is we’re taking 80,000 artifacts from a building that doesn’t have temperature and humidity control, and protecting the artifacts, which ensures we’ll be able to preserve the museum," Premier Binns said.
It was also suggested at the St Peter’s meeting that because the Northumberland Community Development Corporation is $800,000 in debt from the corporation’s golf course, the government is investing in the Murray River artifactory to help them pay that off.
Jamie Richards said this is not the case, and the artifactory development is "another venture altogether."
He did confirm that $800,000 is "pretty accurate" for the amount of the corporation’s debt.
"You don’t build golf courses and expect to be debt-free," he said.
The Northumberland Community Development Corporation is waiting to hear from ACOA about the funding they’re expecting to receive to build the 30,000 square foot development, of which 25,000 square feet will house the artifactory.
Premier Binns said the funding package for the artifactory is coming together, but couldn’t give a specific time frame when it will be finalized.
Mr Richards wonders where everyone opposed to the Murray River artifactory was last summer when they started the initiative.
"We had meetings with the heritage foundation and started planning," Mr Richards said.
"We’re prepared as a development corporation to put this facility here. Why weren’t (the people opposed to this) trying to get something else done before?"
Putting the artifactory in Murray River, Premier Binns said, "helps spread development around."
Premier Binns said if we took the view that everything in the whole county had to be centralized, all Federal government offices would be in Ottawa and Toronto, and none would be in PEI. He said it’s the same principle with the museum system.
"We’re the most decentralized province in PEI. We have the greatest number of our population in rural areas. We’re trying to maintain a balance," he said.
"We’ve made the decision to put it in Murray River," Premier Binns said. "It’s a good location."
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