RAM - Royal Alberta Museum

[tallisgood]

Alberta needs to get a significantly greater number of seats to reflect its population, otherwise it will get the short end of the stick regardless of who's in power. We've gotten the short end of the stick for 80 years of Liberal governments, too. This is a matter I addressed in my letter to my MP when complaining about the pulling of the RAM funding.

Alberta has three times the population as Saskatchewan but only twice the seats. Alberta and BC combined have a slightly higher population than Quebec but 11 fewer combined seats. Don't look to any of the major parties to give a damn about us so long as that remains the case.

[Black Star]

Originally Posted by tony0911

Just goes to show where edmonton is on the priority list...........second tier

Seek help for you're mental/Emotional illness.

[RicoLance21]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

LOL. Meanwhile Calgary just finished its new $160 million science centre, a $65 million expansion at Heritage Park, and $30 million dollar Canada Sports Hall of Fame. Upcoming projects are the $135 million Cantos National Music Centre, $25 million for another zoo expansion, and a new central library which is currently funded at $175 million out of a higher projected budget.

Over the same time Edmonton has built a new theatre at Fort Edmonton ($10 million?) and started on the zoo rejuvenation (is the $50 million or so funded?). Forgive me if I overlooked other cultural investments.

The comparison does not look well on Edmonton.

Art Gallery of Alberta - $88M

[Hallsy's Toupee]

More on RAMgate:
http://www.630ched.com/Channels/Reg/NewsLocal/Story.aspx?ID=1562713

Sounds like the mayor realizes that he jumped the gun on the issue of funding for the planned Royal Alberta Museum.

The province called a snap news conference Wednesday, to say the feds were backing away from a $92 million commitment for the downtown project.

Federal Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose insists Ottawa's commitment was never more than $30 million. During a stop by the Rutherford Show on 630 CHED Thursday morning, the MP for Edmonton-Spruce Grove said Stephen Mandel has backed off.

"I'm happy to say, that after the mayor of Edmonton went after one of our fine and upstanding, and very commited MPs, Laurie Hawn (MP, Edmonton-Centre), that the office of the mayor has apologized for the comments they made about Laurie Hawn (Wednesday), and said that they didn't have all the facts," she said. "So, I'm glad to hear that because Laurie Hawn is an excellent MP, and he's very commited to the City of Edmonton, and he's always been an advocate for the museum."

Members of the Redford government say Hawn told them Wednesday the $92 million wasn't there. Ambrose wishes that they would have called her to explain of clarify, before calling the news conference. She still wants the museum to go ahead. She adds she's willing to listen if the province approaches her with a funding request.

According to Edmonton-Castle Downs MLA Thomas Lukaszuk, another application has now been sent to Parliament Hill, which he hopes will bring in the remaining money for the project.

[s4.audios]

Hey I have an idea! Let's propose a gunshop at the new RAM... And add in a big firepit where we can burn all the paper copies of guns registered.. Maybe they'll it again

[Hallsy's Toupee]

RAM: On hold, but hope remains for museum

http://www.630ched.com/Channels/Reg/NewsLocal/Story.aspx?ID=1562794

The Government of Alberta is hoping to get the Royal Alberta Museum file active again following what it considers a misunderstanding with the federal government.

Human Services minister Dave Hancock on his twitter account calls the withdrawal of $92.5 million in funding "unconscionable."

"The commitment was made an needs to be honoured," the tweet reads.

Edmonton-Centre MP Laurie Hawn gave the province the news Wednesday afternoon by phone that there would be no funding. Ottawa had initially pledged $30 million to the project, which is still in play.

Julian Martin, a representative from the Edmonton office of Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose, the MP for Edmonton-Spruce Grove, then delivered the news in person.

"It hasn't been agreed to," said Ambrose. "This money was never committed, nor was there approval of this money, which is why there was never an announcement of this money. There's a request now to the federal government for $95 million."

Since then, Deputy Premier Doug Horner has picked up the ball on this. He has been in touch with both MPs.

"I did speak with Laurie last night (Wednesday), and Laurie told me that he was under the impression that the file was not active, and we did talk about the fact that it is," said Horner, "and that's what I mentioned to the minister this morning."

Responded Ambrose, "I'll leave our private conversations private, but needless to say I think it's great that him and I have a long standing positive relationship so that when these kinds of hiccups happen, the two of us can talk to one another and find some common ground and find some common sense."

The province says the go ahead on the museum was based on an earlier Building Canada announcement.

[SHOFEAR]

Lets wrap the thing in yellow tape so laurie hawn will get hard over it.

[Coldrsx]

Lots of rumours floating around... this better get back on track shortly.

[MalcolmTucker]

The province says the go ahead on the museum was based on an earlier Building Canada announcement.

Problem is there was never an announcement.

[Rocket252]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Lots of rumours floating around... this better get back on track shortly.

Is this an Edmonton phenomenon or do other cities have these drama shows?

Why does everything have to drag out and get muddled up in this city?

[Coldrsx]

Happens the world over, but it does feel like it occurs here more.

[Gary Wayne]

we now need to all call the premier's office and make sure that Redford gets the message that what she is doing will cost her if an election is held soon. I am in total shock that they would cancel the museum . with out a doubt our city mean nothing to the premier and only Calgary willl get what ever they wish from this government..

[Jasper and one o nin]

Originally Posted by Gary Wayne

we now need to all call the premier's office and make sure that Redford gets the message that what she is doing will cost her if an election is held soon. .

The City would just be screwing ourselves then. Certainly the Liberals or NDP will not form a government based on the couple of possible seats gained in Edmonton. The Wildrose isn't going to get squat in Edmonton. But losing the PC seats in Edmonton to the liberals or NDP will only help the WR. Just means fewer seats for the PC's.

[Gary Wayne]

I guess you are correct in your analyses and we never want to help the WR, but on the other hand how do we get the museum back on schedule.

[EdmTrekker]

Call Redfords office - she is hiding in the weeds on this and needs to be called out.

[liferanger]

Originally Posted by Gary Wayne

we now need to all call the premier's office and make sure that Redford gets the message that what she is doing will cost her if an election is held soon. I am in total shock that they would cancel the museum . with out a doubt our city mean nothing to the premier and only Calgary willl get what ever they wish from this government..

Sent the following e-mail to her office.........

Ms. Redford,

I feel compelled to author an e-mail to you in relation to the amazing political debacle concerning the Royal Alberta Museum, scheduled to be built in Downtown Edmonton.

As an Alberta resident, born and raised in this fine province and having voted for your party, my entire life, I watch with bewilderment at the elementary level in which your newly appointed Minister first broke this topic on Wednesday evening, followed by the childish, he said, she said, going back and forth between your minister and the Federal Goverment MP`s for the Edmonton Area. Simply put, it`s time for your minister to grow up and for you to show leadership on this issue.

Secondly, with respect to your governments reluctance to support and fund the Downtown Edmonton Arena, I find myself now convinced for the first time in my life that the Progressive conservative party is not the party of choice for my future vote unless your government changes its position on both of the above topics.

While I realize your government has stated the City of Edmonton could use the MSI funding already in place for funding the arena, I see no reason why additional funds could not be allocated to this ``game changing`` event that will turn the page for Downtown Edmonton and residents of Northern Alberta.

I would like to add for the record that I do not live in the City of Edmonton but do have two children. Children that should benefit from growing up in a province where they could attend a world class museum or attend a concert or sporting event in a truly special and magical place.

I would ask that you and your ministers reconsider your positions on the above topics. I would hope that you and your government want to be remembered as a progressive government vs. a government with the shortest interm premier in Alberta history.

B. Schmidt

[Black Star]

^ Awesome letter

[Gary Wayne]

Maybe if we all wright an email like yours to the premier then she will listen. I think all of Northern Alberta should be outraged and call for this ministers immediate resignation. I believe the timing of the cancellation was deliberately orchestrated by the premier.
She is an opportunist who figured that if we passed the arena in counsel that we could take the cancellation of the museum with less outrage . The premier is wrong though as i believe that citizens across Alberta are outraged with the premiers performance on this museum. Many citizens could care less about the arena but the museum is for all the citizens of Alberta. We fought for the arena and i have never been prouder of all those on this forum, but now we have a new fight and if we all work together we can convince the premier to come clean and make the museum happen .

[Jasper and one o nin]

^I would suggest that if you "write" the Premier, you have somebody proof your email before sending it.

[basilbrush]

Nice letter Liferanger.

Brutal timing for the announcement. Pretty sure that Lindsey Blackett wouldn't have staged that press conference. Wonder why he lost that job to this new guy?