No govt should give any money for this museum. It should be funded exclusively by the private sector. It is a frill.
Winnipeg human rights museum needs more cash, time
Winnipeg human rights museum needs more cash, time
Winnipeg human rights museum needs more cash, time
By Kevin Rollason, Winnipeg Free Press March 8, 2012
It was already going to take more time, but now it's official — more money from the private sector is needed before the Canadian Museum for Human Rights opens its doors in downtown Winnipeg.
Photograph by: Handout
WINNIPEG — It was already going to take more time, but now it's official — more money from the private sector is needed before the Canadian Museum for Human Rights opens its doors in downtown Winnipeg.
Gail Asper, national campaign chairwoman for the Friends of the CMHR, confirmed on Thursday what she said in Toronto on Tuesday: her group now needs to raise about $200 million instead of its former $150 million target.
"We have no problem accepting this challenge," she said during a phone interview from New York City. "We want to get this museum open as soon as possible."
But Asper said their target really changed back in December at the same time the museum announced it was pushing back its opening date to 2014 from 2013.
At that time the museum's construction costs jumped from the $310 million it was estimated to cost in 2009, to more than $350 million. As well, the federal government made it clear it was not going to help with any shortfall, insisting its capital support of $100 million would not change. It is also contributing $21.7 million in annual operating expenditures.
"The Friends, in the absence of hearing anything to the contrary, we have been asked by the museum to assume the funding has to come from every source we can possibly find," Asper said, noting the more than $40 million increase in construction cost is the reason for the increased fundraising target.
"We are talking to donors with the now larger numbers in mind. The bottom line is we certainly are not stopping raising money."
Originally in 2007, the construction costs were estimated to be $265 million.
Angela Cassie, spokeswoman for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, said the museum would not be commenting on the matter because it concerns the Friends of the CMHR.
Cassie said the museum is still forging ahead planning the exhibits to be housed inside while also keeping an eye on trimming the budget for construction where it can.
She said one area that has been put on hold is in the museum's theatre.
"The space will still be there, but there will be no permanent seating at this time," Cassie said.
"We will still have a lecture series there, but we won't have theatre quality seating.
"We don't want to take money away from the experience the visitors will have. We know people are expecting a world-class experience so the last thing we want to do is cut back on the exhibits."
Arthur Schafer, a professor at the University of Manitoba and director of its Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics, said he doesn't understand why the federal government doesn't appear to be willing to cover the financial shortfall for the construction of a federal museum, but is willing to see it stand empty until more funding can be raised.
"The increase in cost over what was estimated is to be expected with construction costs whether it is a museum or a football stadium," Schafer said.
"With other federal museums, the federal government has always made up the shortfall one way or the other. Why Winnipeg, or more accurately the CMHR, is being singled out is discriminatory treatment.
"Why would you let this museum drown when you didn't with others? It makes no sense."
By Kevin Rollason, Winnipeg Free Press March 8, 2012
It was already going to take more time, but now it's official — more money from the private sector is needed before the Canadian Museum for Human Rights opens its doors in downtown Winnipeg.
Photograph by: Handout
WINNIPEG — It was already going to take more time, but now it's official — more money from the private sector is needed before the Canadian Museum for Human Rights opens its doors in downtown Winnipeg.
Gail Asper, national campaign chairwoman for the Friends of the CMHR, confirmed on Thursday what she said in Toronto on Tuesday: her group now needs to raise about $200 million instead of its former $150 million target.
"We have no problem accepting this challenge," she said during a phone interview from New York City. "We want to get this museum open as soon as possible."
But Asper said their target really changed back in December at the same time the museum announced it was pushing back its opening date to 2014 from 2013.
At that time the museum's construction costs jumped from the $310 million it was estimated to cost in 2009, to more than $350 million. As well, the federal government made it clear it was not going to help with any shortfall, insisting its capital support of $100 million would not change. It is also contributing $21.7 million in annual operating expenditures.
"The Friends, in the absence of hearing anything to the contrary, we have been asked by the museum to assume the funding has to come from every source we can possibly find," Asper said, noting the more than $40 million increase in construction cost is the reason for the increased fundraising target.
"We are talking to donors with the now larger numbers in mind. The bottom line is we certainly are not stopping raising money."
Originally in 2007, the construction costs were estimated to be $265 million.
Angela Cassie, spokeswoman for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, said the museum would not be commenting on the matter because it concerns the Friends of the CMHR.
Cassie said the museum is still forging ahead planning the exhibits to be housed inside while also keeping an eye on trimming the budget for construction where it can.
She said one area that has been put on hold is in the museum's theatre.
"The space will still be there, but there will be no permanent seating at this time," Cassie said.
"We will still have a lecture series there, but we won't have theatre quality seating.
"We don't want to take money away from the experience the visitors will have. We know people are expecting a world-class experience so the last thing we want to do is cut back on the exhibits."
Arthur Schafer, a professor at the University of Manitoba and director of its Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics, said he doesn't understand why the federal government doesn't appear to be willing to cover the financial shortfall for the construction of a federal museum, but is willing to see it stand empty until more funding can be raised.
"The increase in cost over what was estimated is to be expected with construction costs whether it is a museum or a football stadium," Schafer said.
"With other federal museums, the federal government has always made up the shortfall one way or the other. Why Winnipeg, or more accurately the CMHR, is being singled out is discriminatory treatment.
"Why would you let this museum drown when you didn't with others? It makes no sense."
