07 June 2013

1921 Census of Canada Count-up: Day 6

This is Day 6 since the 1921 census officially passed into the custody of Library and Archives Canada.

Don't worry, I've no intention of continuing this series every day, only when there's something new to report.

On Wednesday afternoon Heritage Minister James Moore appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on Bill C49, The Canadian Museum of History Act. While he made a case for reinvestment in the Museum, he was unable to explain convincingly the need to change the name and mandate.

Moore stressed funding increases made to Arts and Museum activities within his department had been done deliberately at the expense of other activities:

"And by the way, as a consequence maybe have had to make spending reductions in other areas that were more consequential to those institutions." 
Although he did not specifically mention cuts at Library and Archives Canada the problems at LAC, likely delay in making the 1921 census available is a by-product of that redirection of funding. It's as if you have a family and decide to feed some children and starve others, a case for the Children's Aid Society!

You can view the Committee session with Moore, and subsequent witnesses, by following the broadcast icon at http://www.parl.gc.ca/CommitteeBusiness/CommitteeMeetings.aspx?Cmte=CHPC&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=41&Ses=1#DT20130605CHPCMEE67

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