The Manitoba Museum and - Why don't the Conservatives like museums?

Among the recent cuts by the Stephen Harper Conservatives has been a sharp reduction in funding for museums. This cut means a decrease in funding of $100,000 a year to the Manitoba Museum. It is a decrease that will create considerable difficulties for the Manitoba Museum.

The Museum has had a balanced budget for 14 years. In 2003, the Museum had to lay off 10 people. In 2005, the Museum had to lay off 15 people. The Museum will suffer badly as a result of the short-sighted Conservatives actions. And the problems at the Museum are not just the result of the Conservatives. The NDP have "flatlined" funding - and indeed the level of provincial support is short of what it should be. Furthermore, Auditor General Sheila Fraser said that Canada's heritage was being put at risk by underfunding of museums.

Thursday, I had a chance to visit the Manitoba Museum with my parents who are visiting for Thanksgiving. The Museum has an important role in Canada. It can help us understand prairie plants (see top left photo with my father beside the extensive roots of a Crested Wheatgrass plant dug up during the drought of 1937).

The Museum has also played an important role in education - and in helping us understand why the Caribou (top right photo), should be protected. The bat caves at the Museum (bottom photo) are also an important reminder of the need to move forward with the Manitoba Lowlands National Park - an initiative that the NDP have failed badly with. We need to replace the current NDP government so this initiative can start moving forward again.