June 23, 2022 Update:
Dear Community Members,
As you know from my previous statement (below), the problems facing the RBCM have been evident since 2006 and ignored by previous governments for a long time. When our government formed in 2017, we began the work of exploring options, producing a business case, and making the best decision we could about its future given the information available to us. However, British Columbians made their views clear that we got it wrong.
We have heard you and are listening. Yesterday, Premier John Horgan announced that we are stopping the plan to build a new Royal BC Museum in response to the feedback we heard from British Columbians. The existing museum will remain open, while we begin a new, robust public engagement process with all options on the table.
This museum belongs to the people of this province and decisions about its future should reflect their priorities. Moving forward, the public engagement will determine how we address the longstanding structural issues of the museum’s buildings while we also remain committed to protecting our collective history.
Please click here to learn more about this announcement.
In your service,
Bowinn Ma, MLA
North Vancouver-Lonsdale
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Originally Posted on Facebook at 12:56pm on May 23, 2022.
Dear Community Members,
I know that the BC Government’s recent announcement of a new $800M Royal BC Museum has been met with mixed response, to say the least. Many people have asked “why now?” and wondered how this project fits with the other priorities of our government. Those of you who have followed me over the years know that I endeavor to address issues openly and honestly whenever I can. I want to do that now and offer some context that might help explain government’s decision around the Royal BC Museum project, even if the answers I can offer might not be popular.
Founded in 1886, the Royal BC Museum is an important public asset that hosts over 800,000 visitors a year. It is also a public asset that has come to the end of its useful life. This is frustrating for sure, since the current building isn’t actually that old (55 years old). Sadly, the reality is that the building is not seismically safe and doesn’t meet today’s building codes and accessibility standards. Asbestos and other hazardous materials exists throughout the building and in the displays. All of this puts people and priceless collections at risk, especially if there is a flood or earthquake.
The risks associated with this building have been known since 2006, but it wasn’t until our government formed in 2017 that work began to address these issues. Over the last five years, options have been explored, a concept plan was produced, and public engagement was undertaken. A business case was then developed and approved this year.
All of this work happened while our government also focused on the top priorities of British Columbians: Creating a system of care for mental health, building up a universal child care system, hiring nearly 30,000 additional healthcare workers, leading the province through a pandemic and much more, all while building schools, hospitals, housing, childcare, and transportation infrastructure at a rate never before seen in this province. Our BC Government is currently undertaking the single largest capital infrastructure investment program in BC history with nearly $28B in investments underway. To put this into context, on an annualized basis the Royal BC Museum investment amounts to less than 1% of this year’s capital spending of $9B.
I know that the price tag has raised concerns for people. It is true — construction of major institutional assets is very expensive these days and they can take years of development to just get to the public announcement stage. However, investments in museums like this pay for themselves – we anticipate that for every $1 invested, the public will receive a $4 return. Museums also contribute to improved literacy, social inclusion and overall health of Canadians valued at an estimated $1.2B/year in educational benefits for learners.
Finally, I want to talk about reconciliation. The Royal BC Museum’s current collection contains 7 million artifacts, representing 27km worth of objects all lined up. This collection is invaluable to British Columbians, but many of the objects are even more valuable to the Indigenous communities from which they were stolen. As we build the new museum it is also an opportunity to address the mistakes of the past and do things differently going forward. That’s why it’s so important that the new BC Royal Museum will be the first ever government project that partners with local First Nations on the project team, participating in both project development and delivery including design influence to reflect Lekwungen elements.
Through the last five years that we’ve served as your government, we have tackled countless overlapping priorities at the same time, while also fixing the dire problems left behind by the previous government. The Royal BC Museum is one project out of literally hundreds of projects that we have undertaken. I respect the right of everyone to an opinion on it and only hope that I’ve been able to offer greater insight into why we came to the decision that we did on this one.
In your service,
Bowinn Ma, MLA
North Vancouver-Lonsdale