Artifactory in Murray River gets shelved

BY STEVE SHARRATT - The Guardian June 29, 2007

A one-acre piece of property that was to become home to the province's new artifactory will face an empty future.

The new Liberal government has pulled the plug on building a $4.9-million artifactory here that was endorsed by the previous administration and would be constructed in the riding of former Premier Pat Binns.

"It's not a huge surprise but it certainly is disappointing," said Jamie Richards, chair of the Northumberland Development Corporation, who heard the news from The Guardian.

"Hopefully the new government will see our community is valuable for some project," he said.

Communities and Cultural Affairs Minister Carolyn Bertram announced the project cancellation Thursday and said the province - with the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation - would seek a comprehensive plan for Island heritage.

Government will also stabilize the current storage facility to reduce any danger to the more than 80,000 artifacts housed in a leaking building at the West Royalty Industrial Park.

The commencement of the artifactory project in Murray River was endorsed by the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation, but drew criticism from other heritage advocates in the province who suggested a provincial museum was important and would best suit the needs in the Charlottetown area.