Community Forum Report - Prince Edward Island 2014

The Community Forum Report is now public. Developed over the last year, the report looks at options for celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference leading to Canadian Confederation.

Still Hope for a Provincial Museum

Published on June 28, 2012 
Letters to the Editor (The Guardian)  

 It seems our ability to dream is caught up in an economic straitjacket."At one time there was no library system on the Island - no university or community college - all these ventures took vision and effort and now have been accepted as a part of the services a province provides for advancing knowledge. 

 
By Ian Scott
Commentary

The column by Gary MacDougall (May 19, 2012) on planning for 2014 activities, and the response by Senator Percy Downe on June 16 both indicated that conflicting views have emerged related to potential commemorative events for the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference. These camps seem to be polarized around whether the focus of the event should be 'big party' versus 'legacy project', amid the economic realities affecting all sides.

The case for a proper provincial museum to complete our decentralized museum system remains an important public policy issue as indicated by the number of letters and editorials of support published within this paper over the years, not to mention recent studies and reports. From an election promise made by the Liberal government when they first formed government in 2007 to the 2011 policy convention of the Liberal Party of P.E.I., we have been told that planning for provincial museum development is a priority, yet the provincial five-year capital plan has yet to show a provincial museum project included. The P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation is the designated Crown agency charged with fulfilling the role under the Museum Act with what provincial dollars are allocated annually, yet the provincial cabinet remains effectively in charge of any new developments that would allow for appropriate facilities to carry out that role.

The idea that 2014 would be an opportune time to advance the provincial museum project has been discussed for several years now; moving ahead with planning a central museum facility is essential before more of our historically significant objects are lost. We sometimes seem caught in a cycle - without a central museum facility we lack exposure to the role museums can play, which could be producing a lack of commitment to planning for the future. We can hope that MacDougall's words are not ringing true, "The thought that today's generation has neither the interest nor the foresight to think of a lasting legacy for the 150th anniversary is disheartening. It seems our ability to dream is caught up in an economic straitjacket."
At one time there was no library system on the Island - no university or community college - all these ventures took vision and effort and now have been accepted as a part of the services a province provides for advancing knowledge. The same vision for improving the Island led our legislative assembly to create the P.E.I. Heritage Foundation in 1970 and in 1983 to grant it new powers as our provincial museum. Over the years, much has been achieved, but to realize the full mandate, which includes both human and natural history, much more needs to be done. Clearly the hope for a modest start on provincial museum development as the legacy project was heard loud and clear from the public at the consultation events I attended; one can only hope that the message has not fallen on deaf ears.

Ian Scott is president of the Natural History Society of P.E.I. In the 1980s, he served as executive director of the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation.

A perfect legacy project

As published in The Guardian on June 16, 2012

Editor:
I refer to the article 'Legacy money looks scarce for 2014 celebration' (The Guardian, June 11, 2012).
The built legacy to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference in 1964 was the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Every province provided 15 cents per capita for the construction, matched by the ruling Liberal federal government under Lester Pearson. Interestingly, Prime Minister Pearson introduced the Canadian flag at around the same time.

The fact that it appears that, according to Mayor Clifford Lee, there will be no funding provincially or federally for a built legacy to commemorate the 150th anniversary is an indication as to how this country has changed its values over the years. A provincial museum is sorely lacking in this province and has been talked about for years while valuable historical artifacts are still evidently deteriorating in leaky storage (artifactory) at an old vehicle maintenance building in West Royalty.

What a perfect built legacy a permanent museum would be. The seat of Confederation needs a museum. Are we to wait another 50 years?

The present Harper government is in so many ways destroying traditional Canadian values, this issue being a prime example. Harper's dictatorial 'divide and conquer' policy is taking its toll in no uncertain terms. A once-proud country has fragmented into a lack of unity across the provinces.

In conclusion, shame on Minister Gail Shea for not negotiating on behalf of P.E.I. in her position as minister of national revenue in the Harper regime. Maybe she could 'loosen the purse strings' a bit.

John R. Shakespeare,
Charlottetown

How much anniversary funding can we expect from Ottawa?

By Percy Downe
Commentary as published in The Guardian June 16, 2012

For the last number of decades, the Government of Canada has financed major events across our country that have significant historical importance. The current Conservative government has continued this initiative by financially supporting the anniversary of the War of 1812 ($28 million), the 400th anniversary of the founding of Cupids in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2010 (amounting to a per capita contribution of $5,400 for a community of 790 people) and the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City ($120 million).

Given the significant financial support that these other events have received - particularly the Anniversary of Quebec City - I was surprised by the response of Heritage Minister James Moore to a report in The Guardian that P.E.I.'s anticipation of $30 million for the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference might be an ambitious figure.

Given the historical significance of the Charlottetown Conference, it is not unreasonable to expect that the federal funding level for the 150th anniversary will be closer by comparison to the $120 million received by Quebec for its anniversary celebration than the $28 million allotted for the War of 1812 bicentennial. For the heritage minister to suggest otherwise is, above all, an insult to a milestone of such importance in Canadian history. For the heritage minister to suggest otherwise in the name of fiscal restraint is, given the lavish expense for other celebrations at a time of government austerity, an insult to Islanders. If the federal government has been so generous in commemorating other events, why would the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference be any less deserving?

As Canadians prepare to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference in 2014, Prince Edward Islanders should not assume that a financial contribution comparable to what was received by Quebec City of over $100 million from the Government of Canada is unrealistic.

Canadians may question the appropriateness of spending such large amounts of money on anniversaries in the current economic climate, but when these funds are spent on infrastructure, they create jobs and leave a permanent benefit for residents. Canadians still use the parks and other facilities built in honour of Canada's Centennial in 1967, and continue to flock to the Confederation Centre of the Arts that was built to mark the 100th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference. Far beyond concerts or fireworks displays, such funding provides a lasting legacy to communities that will serve as a tangible reminder of our Canadian heritage.

For example, in the case of Cupids, the community invested in building The Cupids Legacy Centre, an interactive museum that pays tribute to Cupids' place in history as the oldest continuously occupied English settlement in Canada. The centre also contains multi-purpose space that can be used for events and celebrations and has proven to be of great benefit to the entire community.

The fundamental importance of the Charlottetown Conference in Canadian history cannot be overstated. Intended as a venue to discuss Maritime union, the conference instead became more ambitious, bringing in Upper and Lower Canada, leading to the formation of our country and earning Prince Edward Island the title 'Cradle of Confederation'. To celebrate the accomplishment that was Confederation, one has to recognize the key role played by the Charlottetown Conference, and as we approach its 150th anniversary, we need to reflect and discuss how we are to commemorate it in a manner befitting its importance.

Recently in his column, the managing editor of The Guardian, Gary MacDougall, wrote:

"The question needs to be asked, is 2014 just a golden sentimental opportunity to hawk the province and its charms to tourists; to make a big fuss and ensure a banner tourism season, like the ones we used to enjoy? Or is it a special moment in time, an opportunity to mark one of this country's most historic moments and P.E.I.'s place in it? ...The thought that today's generation has neither the interest nor the foresight to think of a lasting legacy for the 150th anniversary is disheartening. It seems our ability to dream is caught up in an economic straitjacket."

Good question - and to date - no answer.

Whatever the level of federal funding allocated to celebrate the Charlottetown Conference - there being no question that millions of dollars in federal funding will be budgeted for this purpose - I hope that this information can inspire imaginative discussions over how we can utilize the funding to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference in a way that has a lasting and positive impact on our community, for both the benefit of current and future generations of Islanders and Canadians alike.

Percy Downe is a senator from Charlottetown.

Legacy money looks scarce for 2014 celebration

as published by The Guardian on June 11, 2012 

Dave Stewart

Mayor says province, Ottawa clear there will be no built legacy for anniversary.

It still doesn’t look like Charlottetown is getting a dime from Ottawa to build a lasting legacy as part of the 2014 celebrations.

The city will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference where the Fathers of Confederation met to set the groundwork that led to the birth of Canada as a nation.

There’s been loads of speculation about what the 2014 celebrations will entail, with most of the media attention focusing on big-ticket items like a provincial museum and/or a new multi-purpose arena.

Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee says even though the federal government has just announced it will create a new Build Canada Fund infrastructure program — the last one was $33 billion for cities and towns — he isn’t getting any indication there will be truckloads of money coming down to pay for anything lasting for 2014.

“My understanding, at this point in time, is that the federal and provincial governments have clearly indicated that there will be no built legacy constructed to commemorate the 2014 celebrations,’’ Lee said.
“As discussions move forward, the federal government may loosen the purse strings but the position today of the governments are that there will be no built legacy.’’

The Confederation Centre of the Arts, for example, was a built legacy project, constructed in 1964 to celebrate the 100th anniversary.

Lee was hoping 2014 might bring something similar.

“I certainly was hoping in 2014 that we could quite possibly look at a provincial museum in the capital city (but) no other level of government has an interest in that and certainly it isn’t a project the city would even consider (paying for) on our own.’’

A local committee has been set up to lead the 2014 celebrations but specifics on what the celebrations will feature hasn’t been divulged yet although there are public consultations ongoing.

“I am proceeding with 2014 celebrations assuming there is no built legacy.’’

Lee recently travelled to Quebec City to meet with Mayor Regis Labeaume to begin dialogue between both cities, discussing ways and opportunities in which they can work together to recognize and commemorate then 1864 conferences.

In September 1864, Charlottetown hosted the first of three conferences which led to the creation of Canada. The second conference took place in Quebec City in October 1864 while the final meeting was held in London, England.

Commendable but puzzling comments on 2014

 Editorial published in The Guardian on June 12, 2012 

Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee's recent comments expressing a desire to work with Quebec City to celebrate the historic Charlottetown and Quebec City Conferences were commendable, but also puzzling. Is this the same mayor who said plainly three months ago his city wouldn't be budgeting anything this year for the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference in 2014?

When the capital city brought down its budget for the new fiscal year in March, Mayor Lee lamented that with federal and provincial cutbacks, the city wouldn't be putting aside any cash this year for the 2014 celebrations. That was disappointing, and at the time we mildly challenged the mayor's party-pooper outlook.

So it was pleasantly surprising last week when Mayor Lee expressed enthusiasm for working together with Quebec City to "explore opportunities for our cities to work together, as both (conferences) are important events for Canadians to share in and be proud of." The mayor had recently travelled to Quebec City to meet with Mayor Regis Labeaume to discuss how the two cities could celebrate the 1864 conferences and the anniversary of Canada in 2017.

Then on the heels of that announcement, Charlottetown residents learned that the 2014 celebrations are not likely to include a tangible legacy project. The mayor said quite candidly that federal and provincial funding would be needed for such a project, and that he hasn't seen any indication that such funding is headed this way.

The Confederation Centre of the Arts was the acknowledged legacy project left here by the celebrations in 1964 marking the 100th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference. The centre remains a visible reminder of what took place here in 1864, and has had a profound and lasting impact not only on the city and the province, but on the development of the performing arts in Canada. A similar legacy project marking the 150th anniversary could offer the same potential. Perhaps the mayor needs to put more effort into making that point with Ottawa and the province. Let's not take no for an answer just yet.