February 4, 2010

The Ontario Museum Association has accepted the Minister of Culture’s invitation to visit Queen’s Park again to continue to raise our elected officials’ awareness of the tremendous contribution of Ontario’s museums to the creation of vibrant communities across the province; fostering a healthy creative economy, providing support to Education, and offering authentic cultural tourism experiences to more than 3 million annual visitors to every city and town across Ontario.

At the January 12th meeting with Ailleen Carroll, then Minister of Culture, OMA President Kathleen Powell, Treasurer John Dalrymple and Executive Director Marie Lalonde reminded the Minister that Ontario's community museums welcome 3 million visitors annually, and brought forward a request for a $ 5 million increase in the CMOG funding envelope, to ensure the sustainability of the province's community museums as contributors to the province's economy, education and tourism.

This increase to the CMOG envelope would also allow qualifying museums to enter the program. The OMA referred the Minister to the 5 museums assessed and advised of qualifying for CMOG funding in 2009, only to be told after working with their museum advisors, and late in the year (November), that they would not be receiving anticipated funding by the Ministry.

We encourage members to invite their MPP’s to attend the day and to remind their MPP’s of the great work that results from the CMOG public investment.

During the legislative recess, December to Family Day and Heritage Week starting February 15, 2010, we urge members to visit and contact MPPs in their constituency office to remind them of the important role that Ontario museums play in every community.

Marie Lalonde
Ontario Museum Association
mlalonde@museumsontario.com
416-348-8672
or toll-free in Ontario 1-866-OMA-8672

Ontario Museums at Queen's Park Day is generously supported by: