Notice of Motion Tabled in Legislature

As tabled in the Legislature of the Province of Prince Edward Island
MOTION No. 37
PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation

Carolyn Bertram gives notice that tomorrow she will move, seconded by Richard Brown, the following Motion:

WHEREAS the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation at its annual general meeting on March 14, 2007 passed resolutions pertaining to the issue of the artifactory and the concept of a provincial museum;

AND WHEREAS the Museum Act has granted a clear mandate in human and natural history and the board has indicated that it “dreams of establishing a provincial museum where much of the Island history presently housed in our ‘artifactory’ could be presented and interpreted to the public”;

AND WHEREAS there is strong interest across the Island, evidenced during a set of recent consultations, that the mandate of the PEI Museum be fulfilled in areas of collection management, research, publishing, conservation and in exhibitions;

AND WHEREAS 25 years has elapsed since the current mandate was granted to the organization, it is not unreasonable for the public, the membership and the staff to have expectations for clear policy for the development and fulfilment of this mandate across the province;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly respect the decision of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation to undertake a planning study to be conducted under the direction of the executive director but assisted by such researchers as he may see fit to examine the organization’s mandate as provided by legislation and review the governance structure and all operations of the organization in communications, publishing, research, conservation, collections management, exhibition and interpretation, as well as the operations of the branch museum system;

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly respect the decision of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation that this study shall review prior planning studies and include consultations in a format determined by the executive director and shall seek input from groups and individuals with knowledge in the field to determine accessibility of private or public collections that could be available to the museum. The report shall be presented to the membership for approval at both a draft and final stage before it becomes policy of the organization;

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly respect the call of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation that a moratorium on all new developments and agreements related to the artifactory be established immediately that shall remain in place until the report is completed and adopted by the membership along with an implementation plan;

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly recognize that Dr. David Keenleyside has been newly appointed as executive director and has been charged with undertaking a planning study, which is now underway, to review the operations and mandate of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation;

AND THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly respect the decision of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation that it is unfair to the study process for the Board of Governors to undertake new initiatives and developments until such time as Dr.Keenleyside has reported to the members of the museum and they have adopted an implementation plan to guide the board in fulfilling the mandate.

Signed by: Carolyn Bertam
Signed by: Richard Brown
10 April 2007 8:25 p.m.