1461 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

Les Leyne: $789 million museum plan creates political earthquake for NDP

For all the “seismic concerns” the NDP government has developed about the Royal B.C. Museum, the decision to tear it down and build a new one is creating a political earthquake.

https://www.timescol...for-ndp-5380730

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 18 May 2022 - 03:31 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

B.C. to demolish 'racist' museum and build unprecedentedly expensive replacement

By agreeing to a starting cost of $789 million, the B.C. government is setting the ball rolling on one of the world’s most expensive museum projects

https://nationalpost...ive-replacement


Only months after a controversial decision to dismantle much of the Royal British Columbia Museum in the service of decolonization, the government of B.C. Premier John Horgan has just announced plans to demolish the facility entirely and replace it with the single most expensive museum in Canadian history.

________


Belfast, Northern Ireland, is comparable in population size to Victoria, and its signature attraction is Titanic Belfast, a 2012 commemoration of the RMS Titanic, which was constructed by Belfast shipyards in the early 20th century.

At 850,000 visitors per year, Titanic Belfast has almost exactly the same level of traffic as the Royal B.C. Museum. But Belfast opened its museum for just $190 million in inflation-adjusted Canadian dollars.

___________

Construction of the 9/11 museum was inflated in part by a far more complex building environment than in Victoria — as well as a rush to have the facility open in time for the tragedy’s 10th anniversary.

Ultimately, it opened its doors in 2011 for about US$700 million — roughly $1.1 billion in modern Canadian dollars.

As for why B.C.’s new museum would need to approach $1 billion in costs, a statement by the premier noted it would have “high efficiency … HVAC systems” and would “incorporate mass timber construction.” In addition to 1,950 construction jobs expected to be created by the project, the statement also promised “more than 1,050 associated jobs.”

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 18 May 2022 - 02:59 PM.

[spanky123]

^ I am wondering if the $800M 'upgrade' is misdirection.

 

I reported last year that word on the street was that the BC Government was going to turn over the Thunderbird Park lands which included the RBCM to the Songhees FN as part of a land claims settlement. The CoV has already voiced its support for transferring $50M in land to the FN.

 

Perhaps the $800M was designed to enrage people such that they will accept a much smaller "remediation" and transfer. 

Edited by spanky123, 18 May 2022 - 03:26 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Which $50 million in CoV land has been promised?

That much land could only be a current park.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 18 May 2022 - 03:30 PM.

[spanky123]

Which $50 million in CoV land has been promised?

That much land could only be a current park.

 

https://www.cbc.ca/n...o with the land.

[Victoria Watcher]

Well….



While the city does not own the land, and is not a party to treaty negotiations, Mayor Helps says it is stepping up now to make it clear to the province that it will not dispute the transfers.

[Mike K.]

There was some land on Pandora, I think?

[spanky123]

^ And those lands are only part of what is being claimed as the article states. Thunderbird and the RBCM are seperate.

[spanky123]

While the city does not own the land, and is not a party to treaty negotiations, Mayor Helps says it is stepping up now to make it clear to the province that it will not dispute the transfers.

 

Easy to offer what is not yours. 

[Victoria Watcher]

I’m all for the reconciliation, but it must come to an end like the Nisga treaty. It can’t be continually open-ended.

But that close-end treaty ratified 22 years ago is not acceptable to many.

Especially lawyers billing for decades on treaty negotiations.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 18 May 2022 - 03:40 PM.

[spanky123]

I’m all for the reconciliation, but it must come to an end like the Nisga treaty. It can’t be continually open-ended.

 

It will remain open ended as long as the settlements keep coming. I don't blame the FN, they keep asking and they keep getting. Most people would do the same thing.

[Victoria Watcher]

Like Quebec.

[On the Level]

As for why B.C.’s new museum would need to approach $1 billion in costs, a statement by the premier noted it would have “high efficiency … HVAC systems” and would “incorporate mass timber construction.” In addition to 1,950 construction jobs expected to be created by the project, the statement also promised “more than 1,050 associated jobs.”

 

Does it come with a free BC Ferry?

[Nparker]

Does it come with a free BC Ferry?

Perhaps not free, but I am sure it will be fast.

[Mike K.]

The Fast Cats helped sink the previous NDP government.

The public isn’t happy. The room clearly wasn’t read on this one.

[dasmo]

Recall is a process to remove a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from office between elections. A registered voter collects signatures from other registered voters in their electoral district. If the required signature threshold is met, the MLA is removed and a by-election is held.

https://elections.bc...tiative/recall/

[spanky123]

Recall is a process to remove a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from office between elections. A registered voter collects signatures from other registered voters in their electoral district. If the required signature threshold is met, the MLA is removed and a by-election is held.

https://elections.bc...tiative/recall/

 

Victoria's MLA may be a good target. Has Grace Lore actually done anything since she was elected?

[baconnbits]

Nothing

[Victoria Watcher]

Nothing.

[baconnbits]

I can’t imagine any of the First Nations are asking for this. Don’t most of them want their artifacts back? Wouldn’t the songhees and esquimalt prefer to have their own museum on their own land?
The fact there are no plans, no drawings, no coatings but a very specific budget tells me
This is a captains call by Horgan
Site C it before the next election and he announces his retirement due to his health
A monument to him And his government.
$$ better spent elsewhere
Doctors, housing, providing First Nations with true equality of opportunity
Very tone deaf.
Hope they lose next election. Bonnie Henry shouldn’t see them re elected.