Evidence of meeting #21 for Canadian Heritage in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was museum.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Chairman, Cultura
I would have liked to have been better prepared before testifying before you today.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
I'm certain that every committee member will want you to appear before us again.
Liberal
Liberal
Chairman, Cultura
For me, museums are like people.
It is the people.
It's their strength that needs to be improved. To do this, you need training and budgets to help them advance, to make their ideas a reality, to reach out to society and to share knowledge. They should also be provided better conditions for their work and their collections.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
That's what the archives program did. There was initial capital to help people to develop local archives. This kind of measure would therefore be relevant.
NDP
Chairman, Cultura
That said, we need to do more than just collect and preserve these objects and documents. We need to be able to use them and make sure we do more.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
You mentioned the great national vault, like the one in Norway.
Library and Archives Canada is the depository. I think in this case there are 30 linear kilometres.
Chairman, Cultura
In Montreal, yes, but it's rented, and it's private. And many people would be interested in developing this in the private sector. It would involve ensuring good conditions in return for rental rates. The museums in Montreal use it. We're talking about 70%. The other 30% are used by families who want to preserve their heritage and by companies that also want to keep some items in a safe place. As a society, we have not yet found businesses that can meet these conservation needs. I am throwing this idea out to certain investors.
We tried to create a regional system in Rimouski, and we almost did it. The building owner was very interested, but we lacked funding for the shelving. Specialized shelving was needed both to make proper use of the space and to preserve what was stored. That would have cost over $150,000, and we did not manage to find the money. Still, the building was available.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you, Mr. Nantel.
I have allowed this to be a nine-minute session because, as I said before, our witness is so entrancing.
Next is Julie Dabrusin, for the Liberals.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Rivard, I too visited your website, and I found it very interesting to see all your projects.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
Yes.
You mentioned Rimouski. I see that Rimouski has a regional museum.
Chairman, Cultura
This regional museum does exist, but it has to be relocated because it is much too cramped in the building it currently occupies. It needs three times the space. It does a fairly good job with contemporary art and regional art, but it is also the legatee of the Québec-Téléphone collection, which is one of the most interesting technological collections of telephony in Canada. However, the museum cannot exhibit it or do anything with it because it doesn't have enough space.
We realized this project with the architect Pierre Thibault. We found a site and a regional reserve. In other words, if we created a new museum, we would be creating a secure building in an industrial park where all the objects from all the museums in the region—in particular objects from the Soeurs de l'Assomption and the Lamontagne House—would be sent and properly protected. We would keep a prime space for the public in the heart of the city.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
Right.
You have several projects in Sweden and France, but fewer in Quebec.