Canadian Heritage committee  There already are in place certain exchange agreements between museums, whereby a membership in one museum allows you access to other museums across the country. There's no global program for every museum, but I think it's a very good idea. Of course, supporting museums in that w

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes, really, it's time critical.

Canadian Heritage committee  It's $40 million-plus from board members and close friends of the gallery in a quiet phase of the fundraising campaign.

Canadian Heritage committee  We've been raising that for four or five years now. Some of it goes back further, because the province came in 10 years ago with its first investment of $50 million, so fundraising has been going on for a long time.

Canadian Heritage committee  No, it's not. The land is owned by the City of Vancouver, and the building, the former courthouse, is owned by the Province of British Columbia. We have no say over its future destiny.

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes. We have a lot of potential donors. There are $150 million in asks on the table right now. A lot of donors are sitting on it, though. They're waiting for the government. They don't want to back it until they can see that there is some kind of commitment from the federal or th

Canadian Heritage committee  You never know, but the economic, social, and cultural benefits of this, and the benefits to tourism, are so great. All you have to do is look at Saskatoon, which is one of the biggest tourist draws in Canada right now because of the Remai museum. There is a new museum in Quebec

Canadian Heritage committee  I think we could if we had an expression of commitment from the provincial government, that yes, they like this project and want to go forward with it.... They've already put in $50 million, and they would be expected over the next five years to put in an equal amount. The federa

Canadian Heritage committee  Absolutely. Of course, there has been a business case prepared for how the building will operate. The current budget is $19 million. The budget of the new building would be $28 million. We're quite confident of being able to make that. Like I said, we have lineups around the blo

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes, that's right, and it's also what we do with taxation generation. This independent study shows that there would be, for example, $8 million in direct tax income to the Province of British Columbia per year. As a business investment, it makes sense.

Canadian Heritage committee  We need to have the commitment of the provincial and the federal governments before we put a shovel in the ground. We cannot proceed without that. We don't need to have all the funding in place before we start. It's a bit like making a movie. You get the money to shoot, and then

Canadian Heritage committee  Absolutely. It's not only about new Canadians, but we have a very strong commitment to first nations and indigeneity. We've produced major exhibitions and major publications in that vein. We have also created what is called the Institute of Asian Art, which has been going for thr

Canadian Heritage committee  The smaller museums in British Columbia already depend on the Vancouver Art Gallery for exhibitions that we package and send out across the province. We're very much part of the cultural life of British Columbia. The soundings that we have conducted in cities like Nanaimo or Prin

Canadian Heritage committee  I would like to say something about your educational question. International studies have been done by Pew Charitable Trusts and various other organizations around the world. I know personally from my work with Michaëlle Jean when she was the Governor General that she was fond of

Canadian Heritage committee  I can answer that from personal experience. I grew up in Toronto. Living in downtown Toronto, at the age of eight, I used to walk in the front doors of the Royal Ontario Museum to look at the mummies and all their treasures. I had amazing experiences as a child and a young teenag