Manitoba Children's Museum to be renovated: Canada-Manitoba investment will help to create jobs

• Backgrounder

Winnipeg, Manitoba, November 13, 2009 — A combined investment by the governments of Canada and Manitoba in 12 new innovative galleries at the Manitoba Children’s Museum will present a world of experiences featuring leading-edge technology that entertain as they educate, Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger and Saint Boniface MP Shelly Glover announced today, along with the Museum’s Executive Director Diane Doth.

“Investments like this are making Manitoba a better place for our children to play, learn and grow,” said Premier Selinger. “We’re improving the quality of life and building a better future for Manitoba families.”

“The arts and culture sector plays a major role in developing and sustaining the economic future of our communities,” said Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages James Moore. “We are proud to invest in projects that not only create more welcoming venues to express culture, but invigorate Canada’s economy as well.”

“The Manitoba Children’s Museum is an attraction that families, including my own, have frequented for many years. Our government is proud to be investing in renovation work at the museum to ensure that Canadian families can continue to enjoy the educational benefits of this interactive and fun centre,” said MP Glover.

The funding will support the Manitoba Children’s Museum Capital Renewal Project. The museum plans to renew its current gallery and add a 3,500 sq ft welcome centre to its current location at The Forks, in the historic Kinsmen Building. Once completed, the renovated space will include an art and exhibition centre, dedicated collections storage room and specialized sound and lighting equipment.

"What thrilling news! Through the contributions from the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba, together we can shape the lives and futures of children as they grow to be creative and productive members of our community”, said Diane Doth, Executive Director of Manitoba Children’s Museum. “Thank you for being a partner in our mission to spark kids’ creative learning!"

For over two decades, the Manitoba Children’s Museum has been providing an interactive environment that nurtures the power of imagination and spirit of self-discovery.

Of the overall project costs of $9.5 million the federal and provincial governments will contribute up to $5 million. The Government of Canada is providing funding of $2.5 million under the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund and an additional $1.25 million through the new Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, announced in Canada's Economic Action Plan. The Province of Manitoba is providing funding of $1.25 million. The remaining amount is being provided through Museum donations and fundraising activities.

Canada and Manitoba are working together to create jobs and boost the economy, while making significant investments that help communities improve their infrastructure. Both governments have agreed to work together to ensure that these funds are delivered quickly and efficiently.

The federal government established a new $4 billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, which provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure rehabilitation projects. Funding is available for two years for projects that begin during the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons and can be completed before March 31, 2011.

Today’s announcement continues the important steps the Province of Manitoba is taking to support economic growth by investing $1.6 billion this year into infrastructure to stimulate the economy, create jobs, and renew the province's cultural facilities, roads, schools, health facilities and water treatment facilities.

Learn how the Government of Canada is investing in Manitoba infrastructure.

For more information, contact:

Chris Day
Press Secretary to
Canada’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure
613-991-0700

Deirdra McCracken
Director of Communications to the
Minister of Canadian Heritage and
Official Languages
819-997-7788

Backgrounder

Canada Cultural Spaces Fund

The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, formerly known as the Cultural Spaces Canada program, of the Department of Canadian Heritage seeks to improve physical conditions for artistic creativity and arts presentation or exhibition. It is also designed to increase access for Canadians to performing, visual, and media arts and to museum collections and heritage displays.

The Government of Canada is investing $540 million in the arts and culture sector to stimulate the economy as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. This brings the Government of Canada’s total investment in arts programs to over $1.5 billion over five years.

Infrastructure Stimulus Fund

The new federal $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, announced in Canada's Economic Action Plan, invests in construction-ready infrastructure rehabilitation projects being built during this year's and next year's construction seasons.

The Infrastructure Stimulus Fund complements existing and long-term federal infrastructure funding by focusing on short-term objectives for economic stimulus. To further this goal of rapid economic stimulus, the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund focuses on construction–readiness as important project selection criteria. The full $4 billion is being distributed in fiscal years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. Projects focus largely on the rehabilitation of existing assets such as water, wastewater, highways, roads, culture, community services, parks, and trails.