Ghiz pledges to explore options for provincial museum

Teresa Wright

Published on November 13, 2014 by The Guardian

Premier says he is working on strategy to glean some federal dollars

The Ghiz government is once again talking about a provincial museum for P.E.I., but this time is making no promises.

In his 2014 speech from the throne, Premier Robert Ghiz says his government is “exploring options to establish a provincial museum as a legacy project of Canada’s Sesquicentennial” in 2017.

This is very different language than in November 2008, when his government hosted an event at Province House where a commitment was made to creating a centrally located provincial museum facility.

Carolyn Bertram, who was the minister of heritage at the time, said she hoped to see the museum open within “the next few years.”

Six years later and still no museum, despite many calls for one this year as a 2014 legacy project.

Ghiz says he has met with the provincial museum association and is working on a strategy to glean some federal dollars in 2017.

He admits, however, this is not his No. 1 infrastructure priority.

“Would I love to announce it in the speech from the throne and say it’s starting tomorrow? Absolutely. But to be honest, it’s not our top priority right now,” he said Wednesday.

“But it is something that we want to do in the future and we think that 2017 is probably our best opportunity for it.”

The premier added he would work toward matching whatever federal dollars could be made available, but did not give any concrete dollar amounts.

A provincial museum was one recommendation in a $60,000 report completed by the IRIS group, called Charting A Course, commissioned by the Ghiz government after taking office in 2007.

That report also called for government to develop a strategy to guide future planning for heritage.

In his throne speech Wednesday, Ghiz announced consultations would be held this year to develop a 10-year strategy for cultural development.