Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to respond to the member's question regarding the Canada Science and Technology Museum on behalf of the Minister of Canadian Heritage who is responsible for Canada's national museums.
The importance of the preservation of Canada's scientific and technological heritage as represented by the Canada Science and Technology Museum is an important issue and one that deserves to be set in the proper context.
Our history, beliefs, values and way of life are shaped by the stories and collected experiences of the people that have inhabited this country. Each new generation builds on the legacy of the past. Collecting institutions such as our national museums are the repositories for the wealth of experience, the stories, the people and the events that have shaped this country, and through their public programming and research they provide us with a lens into our future.
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is an institution, a living entity. it connects Canadians through its exhibitions, outreach programs, educational initiatives, partnerships with sister institutions across the country, and by celebrating the ideas and achievements of the innovators that have shaped our past and are leading us into a bright future. This museum represents the collected consciousness of Canada's scientific and technological heritage and our hope for the future.
The museum receives over 400,000 visitors through its doors each year. These visitors come to learn about communications, space technology and exploration, transportation, energy, medicine, engineering, manufacturing and industry, natural resources and the burgeoning new technologies.
The museum is where Canadians can experience how science, technology and innovation converge. They are introduced to Canada's innovators in the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame, with new inductees each year. They experience how science and technology have influenced and continue to shape our society.
I have personally visited the Canada Science and Technology Museum and have seen first-hand the extent of the collection and its relevance to our past, our present and our future. I have also been well apprised of the issues that confront the institution in the delivery of its national mandate and the design and development of its vision for the future.
The museum has been engaging Canadians and presenting significant Canadian innovations and scientific and technological accomplishments in a dynamic and thought provoking manner for almost 40 years. I would like to commend the dedication and hard work of those who have worked tirelessly to achieve such an important success story.
I would like to conclude my remarks by stating that the integrity of this important collection and the continued viability of the institution that provides for its stewardship are key issues that will deserve significant consideration as we move forward. With these priorities in mind, I would put forward that the question of a new facility for the Canada Science and Technology Museum is premature, but it will be dealt with at an appropriate time.
Having said that, one of the first tasks the Minister of Canadian Heritage undertook in her new position was to meet with representatives from the Canadian Museums Association. This is an important step in ensuring we have a strong museum policy.
The government will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that in a culturally diverse country such as Canada, we can build a shared sense of citizenship by acknowledging and preserving the multiple perspectives of our past. Our country's connection with its diverse past defines its spirit and solidifies its sense of achievement. These national collections are our tangible link with our past and our investment in the future.