OTTAWA, February 11, 2008 - The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, today introduced legislation to create the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
An Act Amending the Museums Act will establish the Canadian Museum for Human Rights as a Crown corporation on the same footing as the other national museums. It will be the first new national museum in Canada in more than 40 years and, with its Winnipeg location, the first to be created outside the National Capital Region. The museum will explore the subject of human rights in order to further knowledge and understanding, promote respect for others, and encourage reflection and dialogue.
"Sixty years ago, a Canadian led in the development of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. February 11 marks an important anniversary in the international effort that has continued since then to ensure fundamental human rights for all," said Minister Verner. "On this day, in 1990, Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years in prison. This honorary Canadian exemplifies the values underlying the creation of this unique museum; values demonstrated in Canada's long-standing commitment to human rights, the rule of law, freedom, and democracy."
When Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the project would proceed in April 2007, he applauded the scale of collaboration between the federal government and other public and private contributors to build the museum. The Province of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg, the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, and the Forks Renewal Corporation will contribute a total of $165 million toward the cost of building the museum. The Government of Canada will contribute $100 million toward the building of the museum and will be responsible for the annual operating budget of this national institution.
Information:
Dominic Gosselin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages
819 997-7788
Donald Boulanger
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101
An Act Amending the Museums Act
Backgrounder
The Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages is tabling legislation to establish the Canadian Museum for Human Rights as a national museum. The museum will be located in Winnipeg, and it will be the first new national museum since 1967.
The bill will amend the Museums Act, under which all national museums are established. It also includes consequential amendments to other acts of general application (for instance, the Financial Administration Act) so that they will reflect the creation of the new federal organization.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights will be a Crown corporation with the same status as existing national museums (National Gallery of Canada, Canadian Museum of Civilization, Canadian Museum of Nature, Canada Science and Technology Museum).
The legislation sets out the museum's intended purpose, which is to explore the subject of human rights in order to enhance public understanding of the subject, promote respect for others, and encourage reflection and dialogue.
In addition to the purpose of the museum, the legislation also defines the capacity and powers the museum may exercise in carrying out its mission. This section covers topics such as the museum's collection, exhibitions, public programming, research, training, and business activities. The section is modelled on parallel definitions of capacities and powers for the other national museums.
The museum will be governed by a Board of Trustees appointed in accordance with the Act. Because the Museums Act already includes a provision concerning Boards of Trustees that applies to all national museums, there is no provision dealing with the creation of the Board in the bill to establish the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
In order to ensure that the new museum has staff to support the new Board of Trustees, the bill will enable the Governor in Council to appoint the first director of the museum on the recommendation of the Minister. The Director will be responsible for staffing other positions.
The Government of Canada has concluded agreements with private and public sector contributors that cover matters such as financial contributions to the construction of the museum and the transfer of land. The bill includes a provision that the museum will assume relevant federal benefits and obligations included in the agreements.
