Harper government cancels plan for National Portrait Gallery
Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton submitted proposals to host gallery
Last Updated: Friday, November 7, 2008 | 7:29 PM ET
The Canadian Press
The Harper government has abruptly cancelled plans for a National Portrait Gallery that has been in the works for years.
Newly minted Heritage Minister James Moore announced Friday that none of the proposals received from developers is acceptable to the government.
He said it's important for the government to act prudently in a time of economic instability and the project cannot go ahead.
He made the announcement after 5 p.m. on a Friday — a tried-and-true strategy to minimize bad press.
The Tory administration launched a review in 2006 of a Liberal plan for a national portrait gallery in the historic former American embassy building across from Parliament Hill in Ottawa. An architect was hired to redesign the building, but the money to build it never flowed.
In November 2007, the Harper government cancelled the Ottawa project and announced that nine cities would be permitted to bid for the right to host the gallery.
Eventually, Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton submitted proposals, but the decision process for the gallery was done in secret and the bids have not been made public.
The Alberta government had pledged $40 million in its 2008 budget to support bids to bring the gallery to that province.
Now, the Tories are saying none of those bids is acceptable.
Calgary mayor disappointed
Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier said Friday the cancellation came out of the blue. The city had committed to spending $500,000 on the bid, although it has not spent that much to date.
"It's somewhat puzzling when you look at the amount of time, effort and money that went into this bid only to get this notification that they're not moving forward is disappointing," he said.
The gallery's collection of portraits is currently housed out of public view in an Ottawa area building operated by the National Archives.
The government said the portrait collection will continue to be available for viewing in travelling exhibitions and other public programs.
