Statement made on 25 March 2009 by Senator Frank Mahovlich
Hon. Francis William Mahovlich:
Honourable senators, let me begin by offering my compliments to the Leader of the Government in the Senate for taking swift action on my suggestion to replace the terrible graffiti and advertisements facing Parliament Hill at the site of the former U.S. embassy with a more appropriate covering.
Nearly a year ago, on April 2, 2008, I asked the leader about the National Portrait Gallery, which she referred to as a national institution. As we all know, at the time, a competition was being held to determine the gallery's final location. Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa were the only cities to submit proposals. A month after that first question, I stated that I thought the competition format was a bad idea.
Surprisingly, at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 7, 2008, the Minister of Heritage announced an abrupt cancellation of the plans for the National Portrait Gallery altogether. This means that not only has $20 million been wasted by the federal government when they cancelled the original site location at the former U.S. embassy, but they have now also wasted the time and money of all parties involved in this so-called competition.
Will the leader ask the government to reconsider using the original proposed site of the former U.S. embassy so that the Canadian taxpayer can benefit from the funds already expended toward that site becoming the National Portrait Gallery?
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