Almost 12 million dollars.
That is how much money the museum receives annually from the government.
In other words that is almost 12 million dollars each year from you the taxpayer, whose input and feedback the high paid museum administration is only too happy to turn a blind eye to and ignore. How easy it is to forget and take for granted, those who actually provide their paycheques, the same people whose history they are burying over an extended period of time.
“The museum and archives receive an annual grant from the government of $11.866 million, which represents approximately 55 per cent of its operating budget.”
https://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/sites/default/files/documents/rbcm_20-21_sp_final_1.pdf
In order to close the third floor for several years the museum dropped the admission price by $8.00 and so they would have to, as without it there is not actually all that much left in the museum to see. This means that with significantly less income from ticket sales, the museum is going to be even more reliant financially through tax money from the same public it is unresponsive to and has acted arrogantly towards.
If you haven’t already done so, please encourage friends and family to sign the petition and send it onward through email, social media, by telephone, face to face contact etc. The holidays offer a great chance to do so, but keep in mind there is not much time left! December 31st is the closing date and they are already dismantling the exhibits even while they are still open to the public.
As one person wrote:
“The article on Victoria council’s final condemnation of the Royal B.C. Museum’s third floor states: “Crews will be decorating parts of Old Town for what is expected to be a rush for Christmas.”
Isn’t that like putting a party hat on a death-row inmate?”
Richard Lambert
Victoria
Well, let’s get that innocent inmate a reprieve before it is too late.
Please contact your political representatives.
Here is a brief list, but there are many more out there, who you could contact including your local representatives.
Remember it was political pressure from the top, which was used against the historical exhibits representing our history, so let’s apply a grass roots response and tell them what we think from the public they owe their positions to.
Premier John Horgan:
premier@gov.bc.ca or by phone at 1-250-387-1715.
Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier Carole James:
FIN.Minister@gov.bc.ca
(250) 387-3751
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Melanie Mark
melanie.mark.mla@leg.bc.ca
Contact Victoria Mayor and Council:
Call the Mayor’s Office: 250-361-0200
Call Lisa Helps: 250-661-2708
Email Mayor’s Office: mayor@victoria.ca
Councillor Marianne Alto
250.361.0216
malto@victoria.ca
Councillor Stephen Andrew
250.361.0217
stephen.andrew@victoria.ca
Councillor Sharmarke Dubow
250.361.0223
sdubow@victoria.ca
Councillor Ben Isitt
250.882.9302
bisitt@victoria.ca
Councillor Jeremy Loveday
250.361.0218
jloveday@victoria.ca
Councillor Sarah Potts
250.361.0221
spotts@victoria.ca
Councillor Charlayne Thornton-Joe
250.361.0219
cthornton-joe@victoria.ca
Councillor Geoff Young
250.361.0220
gyoung@victoria.ca
Write a Vancouver Island MP:
Contact Vancouver Island MPs
Victoria MP Laurel Collins: 250-363-3600
laurel.collins@parl.gc.ca
North Island- Powell River MP Rachel Blaney: 1-800-667-8404
rachel.blaney@parl.gc.ca
Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP Lisa Marie Barron: 250-734-6400 and
lisamarie.barron@parl.gc.ca
Courtnay-Alberni MP Gord Johns: 250-947-2140
gord.johns@parl.gc.ca
Cowichan-Malahat-Langford MP Alistair Macgregor: 613-943-2180
alistair.macgregor@parl.gc.ca
Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke MP Randall Garrison: 250-405-6550
randall.garrison@parl.gc.ca
Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Elizabeth May: 613-996-1119 elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca
If you live in other areas than those mentioned please contact your local MLA and MP and tell them what you think.
Let Royal BC Museum know your thoughts
Call: 250-356-7226
Email: reception@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
Write a letter to the Times Colonist
Letters should be less than 250 words, sent to this email: letters@timescolonist.com
Thank you once again for standing up for a past, which cannot defend itself.
For more information contact BCMuseumPetition@mail.com