RAM - Royal Alberta Museum

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

Ambrose's office has said the commitment is still on - unclear whether all funding was pulled, just the boost announced in April, or still all of the cash is set to flow.

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...iness-part-ii/

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Why does everything in this city have to turn into a major debacle?

[Gary Wayne]

Maybe the Feds will make us weight until the next federal election and at that time they will try to con us into voting PC using the reinstating of their contribution to the museum as the con .

[s4.audios]

Harper really doesn't give two shits about Edmonton. What tools these PC's are being

[Hallsy's Toupee]

I've been following the twitters....Ambrose is saying the feds only committed $30 million, and not the $92 million that's supposedly being pulled.

[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.

[Jasper and one o nin]

We should of called it the Royal Alberta Maximum Security Correctional Institute. Then the feds would have kicked in a couple of Billion.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

I think Rona is correct about $30 million, not $92 million.
Here's AB Government press release back in April:

http://alberta.ca/home/NewsFrame.cfm...96EF95B1D.html

The new museum is expected to cost a total of $340 million. Budget 2011 includes $180 million over the first three years for the project, which includes $30 million previously committed by the Government of Canada. The new museum is projected to open by 2015.

[Jasper and one o nin]

Daniel Smith, “The Harper government has demonstrated prudent leadership and fiscal responsibility by not contributing to this project at this time. The new Royal Alberta Museum could be a valuable addition to Alberta’s arts and culture scene, but should only go ahead when Alberta’s books are balanced and more critical infrastructure projects like new schools" Schools! What the hell does she think a museum is? It was actually proposed to have classrooms for schools for fuck sakes.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...iness-part-ii/

So the AB Infrastructure Minister gets a call at 3:30 this afternoon...right after the arena was approved? Coincidence?

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Tweet from Redford's Chief of Staff:

carter_AB Stephen Carter
Expected 92.5 million was from a Building Canada grant. #ableg #ram

Curiouser and curiouser....

[MalcolmTucker]

Building Canada grant

Building Canada Fund
The $8.8 billion Building Canada Fund was established under the 2007 Building Canada plan to fund projects from 2007 to 2014.

The Fund addresses national, regional and local infrastructure priorities and supports projects designed to deliver results in three areas of national importance:

a stronger economy;
a cleaner environment; and
strong and prosperous communities.

How the Fund Works
The Fund works by making investments in public infrastructure owned by provincial, territorial and municipal governments, and in certain cases, private sector and non-profit organizations. Funding is allocated to each province and territory based on population.

Cost-sharing
All projects funded through the Building Canada Fund are cost-shared, with the maximum federal contribution to any single project being 50 per cent.

Generally speaking, municipal projects are cost-shared on a one-third basis—the maximum federal share is limited to one-third, with matching contributions from the province and municipality.

For projects where the asset is owned by a private sector entity, the maximum federal contribution is 25 per cent.

In the territories, funding is administered through the Provincial/Territorial Base Fund.

Components of the Building Canada Fund
The Building Canada Fund is made up of two components: the Major Infrastructure Component and the Communities Component.

Funding for research, knowledge, planning and feasibility studies is also available for projects financed under these components.

Building Canada Fund–Major Infrastructure Component (MIC)
The Major Infrastructure Component of the Building Canada Fund targets larger, strategic projects of national and regional significance.

Under the MIC, at least two-thirds of funding supports projects that address national priorities and improve the lives of Canadians. These include projects related to:

drinking water;
wastewater;
public transit;
the core National Highway System; and
green energy.

Sounds like there was a risk to begin with that the normal proforma federal approval of money within the envelope of the fund when the province directly applies for it didn't apply since the museum was out of the majority of the fund's scope.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

At this point, I dunno who's spewing the bullshit. The whole thing seems fishy to me.
Off to go have a drink or three...

[Jaws]

Originally Posted by Jasper and one o nin

Daniel Smith, “The Harper government has demonstrated prudent leadership and fiscal responsibility by not contributing to this project at this time. The new Royal Alberta Museum could be a valuable addition to Alberta’s arts and culture scene, but should only go ahead when Alberta’s books are balanced and more critical infrastructure projects like new schools" Schools! What the hell does she think a museum is? It was actually proposed to have classrooms for schools for fuck sakes.

Ms. Smith added, "were this project located in Calgary the Wildrose Party would view this as a slap in the face to all Albertans. However, since it's Edmonton we're talking about, we'll try to make cheap political points by catering to the lowest common denominator within the electorate."

[Kevin_foster]

Apparently Mandel was cursing up a storm.

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...d-bad-manners/

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Originally Posted by Kevin_foster

Apparently Mandel was cursing up a storm.

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...d-bad-manners/

This was Mandel when he spoke to the media tonight:

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Originally Posted by Jasper and one o nin

Daniel Smith, “The Harper government has demonstrated prudent leadership and fiscal responsibility by not contributing to this project at this time. The new Royal Alberta Museum could be a valuable addition to Alberta’s arts and culture scene, but should only go ahead when Alberta’s books are balanced and more critical infrastructure projects like new schools" Schools! What the hell does she think a museum is? It was actually proposed to have classrooms for schools for fuck sakes.

And yet she wants to spend $500 million to buy the City Centre Airport?
Her contempt for this city is all too telling.

[MrOilers]

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.

These are excellent points to bring up with my (useless) MP about this today.

It's ridiculous that this project was announced, had gone through a fairly lengthy bid and design phase, then pulled.

[tony0911]

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

[CMD UW]

Until Alberta starts shifting its political support for the Conservatives we'll continue to get the short end of the stick here and there.