National Museum Policy
June 27, 2005
The Ontario Museum Association supports the development of a national
museum
policy and will participate in the Roundtable Discussion on New
Directions
For Canadian Museum Policy by invitation of the Minister of Canadian
Heritage. Carrie Brooks-Joiner, President of the Association, will
join
colleagues from across Canada in Ottawa this week. She will bring
members'
concerns and interests forward to this discussion and will present
a motion
passed at the last OMA Council meeting urging appropriate support
for
Ontario museums.
CMA Advocacy Alert: Momentum Building for a New Canadian Museums
Policy
Disponible
en français
Momentum Building for a New Canadian Museums Policy
We Need Your Help This Summer!
June 22, 2005, Ottawa - This week The House of Commons adjourns
for the
summer and members of Parliament will be returning to their constituencies
across Canada.
This past session of Parliament has been a good one for Canada's
museums.
Tomorrow Starts Today funding, including the Arts and Heritage
Sustainability Program, was renewed for five years and the House
of Commons
Finance Committee recommended that the government provide stable,
long-term
funding to museums.
Most importantly, Canadian Heritage Minister Liza Frulla put museums
at the
top of the government's cultural heritage agenda when she committed
to the
development of a new Canadian Museums Policy.
The CMA has been hard at work on the Canadian Museums Policy, consulting
with members, the provincial museums associations, and the Minister
and her
departmental officials. The CMA has also met with the culture and
heritage
policy spokespersons from the opposition parties in the House of
Commons:
Ms. Bev Oda of the Conservative Party,
Mr. Maka Kotto of the Bloc Quebecois,
and Mr. Charlie Angus of the New Democratic Party.
There is strong momentum building for the new Canadian Museums
Policy and
new funding for museums across Canada.
Over the summer, we need your help! Please contact your MP.
The federal cabinet and members of Parliament will make the final
decision
on the new Canadian Museums Policy - and new funding levels - later
this
year. It is critically important that your member of Parliament
is
supportive of the new Canadian Museums Policy and that he/she be
a strong
advocate for it.
Many museums host events through the summer - exhibition openings,
open
houses and other special events. Please make sure your MP, and other
local
civic leaders, are invited. Call your MP and ask for a meeting to
discuss
the need for new funding for museums.
Take time to tell them about the value of museums and need for
a new
Canadian Museums Policy. Demonstrate the benefits of your museums
to the
local community and show them the added value that would be achieved
with
stronger and more predictable financial support.
MPs are far more likely to support the Canadian Museums Policy
if they see
the benefit for their local community.
Attached is a 'key message' document that you can distribute to
your local
MP and other community leaders
http://www.museums.ca/Cma1/WhatsNew/ADVOCACY/2005/cma_info_e_2306_lr.pdf
If you are not sure who your MP is you can find out by going to
the
Elections Canada website: www.elections.ca
For more information, or assistance in communicating with your
MP, please
contact:
Monique Horth
Director of Public and Professional Affairs
(613) 567-0099 x225
mhorth@museums.ca
Ontario Museum Association
50 Baldwin Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5T 1L4
416-348-8672 or 1-866-OMA-8672
Fax 416-348-0438
Contact
Us
www.museumsontario.com
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