Minister Oda responds to OMA's July
21 Letter re: delays in MAP and CAHSP funding notifications
August 24, 2006
"Mr. Ed Driedger
President
Ontario Museum Association
50 Baldwin Street
Toronto, ON M5T 1L4
Dear Mr. Driedger:
Thank you for your correspondence of July 21, 2006, requesting
information about the delay in announcing funding for various Ontario
Museum Association members' projects under the Department of Canadian
Heritage Museums Assistance Program (MAP) and the Canadian Arts
and Heritage Sustainability Program (CAHSP) for fiscal year 2006-2007.
I appreciate your advising me of your organization's views and
have carefully noted your comments on this subject. Canada's museums
play an invaluable role in educating Canadians about our nation's
rich heritage through their conversation, preservation, accessibility
and promotional activities. Please be assured that I recognize the
present financial challenges and needs of museums, and acknowledge
the importance of timely funding to the success of heritage organizations
and their activities.
All funding requests submitted for consideration to the MAP and
the CAHSP are carefully scrutinized to ensure that they meet the
Government's stated objectives. I am informed that the vast majority
of Ontario-based organizations that submitted requests for funding
to the both the MAP and the CAHSP in fiscal year 2006-2007 have
been notified regarding the status of their applications. Only a
small number remain outstanding.
Please be assured that the Department is making every effort to
ensure that funding decisions are communicated to applicants as
soon as possible. I have also asked departmental officials to continue
to work with heritage organizations to develop a renewed vision
for the role of museums in the 21st century.
I trust that this information is useful. Please accept my best
wishes..
Yours sincerely, Bev Oda, P.C., M.P."
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