(Ottawa: November
22, 2012) The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) has
unveiled a national campaign exposing the threats to Canada’s
cultural institutions and historic sites and proposing what must be
done to reverse the damage.
The “Canada’s Past
Matters” campaign will highlight how federal funding cuts and policy
changes are putting the survival of libraries, archives, museums and
historical sites across the country at risk.
“Our ability as
Canadians to know, understand and appreciate our past is at stake
because of the federal government’s short-sighted cuts and
ill-advised changes to historical programs and services,” CAUT
executive director James L. Turk said at a news conference in Ottawa
today.
“We’ve launched
this campaign because the changes we’re seeing affect not just our
members, but all Canadians in very damaging ways,” added Turk. “We
cannot chart our future properly unless we know and understand our
past. Until government policy is changed, that will be less and less
possible for our children and future generations.”
Turk said the five
aspects of the campaign are:
-
Save Library &
Archives Canada: The federal institution responsible for
preserving Canada’s history and cultural heritage is seriously
threatened by major budget cuts, service reductions, and a
narrowing of its mandate.
-
Preserve
Canada’s Historical Sites: A $29 million reduction in the budget
for Parks Canada is threatening the future of Canada’s 167
historic and archaeological sites.
-
Protect
Canada’s Public Libraries: The inter-library loan program
between Library & Archives Canada and regional public libraries
is being eliminated along with public internet access in local
libraries, making it more difficult for Canadians to access
information and knowledge.
-
Restore
Canada’s Local Archives: The elimination of the National
Archival Development Program has put at risk regional archives
and their projects across Canada.
· Retain the
Canadian Museum of Civilization: The government plans to end
Canada’s largest and most popular museum – the only museum committed
to promoting knowledge and critical understanding of, and
appreciation and respect for, human cultural achievements and human
behaviour.
For more
information about the “Canada’s Past Matters” campaign, visit
www.canadaspastmatters.ca.
The Canadian
Association of University Teachers is the national voice of more
than 68,000 academic and general staff at 120 universities and
colleges across the country.
Contact:
Angela Regnier, Communications Officer, 613-726-5186 (o);
613-601-6304 (cell);
regnier@caut.ca
(email)
Get more background on this campaign in
this pdf document
