(WIKILEAKS CMHR LINK ADDED) Public rejects Winnipeg Council voting to float sinking CMHR boat

(Note: If only I had known about this information BEFORE appearing before city council. The US Ambassador provides some very interesting details about the lobbying of Gail Asper et al and the spin put on the financial aspects of the project. h/t Graham Hnatiuk http://progressivewinnipeg.blogspot.com/2011/04/canadian-museum-for-human-rights.html )

At an April 27 council meeting, Winnipeg councillors proclaimed deeply concerns over the housing crisis, crumbling sidewalks and roads, and funding for rapid transit.

They heard about genuine charitable need and legitimate questions about the source of repeated "official" assumptions that 250,000 human beings will come to see the "iconic" Canadian Museum for Human Rights (more than the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles).

Yet in a unanimous vote, all 16 civic leaders, led by Mayor Sam Katz, added yet another $3.63 million to the $11 million "interest free" loan the city has already handed over, to the pet project of millionaires.

However, a vast majority of online comments left on mainstream media stories reflected that readers did not agree with the acquiescence of their elected representatives to the insatiable desire of museum acolytes that taxpayers backstop their failed private-sector fundraising.

In fact, even supporters of the Museum were not impressed at all.

-- The first story of the Winnipeg Free Press, which ignored the questions that were raised with council about the $11 million loan, recorded 69 comments (some of which were duplicates).

Despite the years of unabashed cheerleading for the CMHR by the broadsheet that claims to be leading a revolution in reporting community issues, their readership continues to reject their party line.

Among the insights:

Posted by: Danjac

April 27, 2011 at 12:08 PM

The funding faucet is now officially on, and will only become more of a torrent as the years go on! Asper could make a good gesture by donating the $4,000,000.00+ he received for the stadium fiasco into this other bottomless funding pit.

Posted by: thatsteveguy

April 27, 2011 at 12:21 PM

I'd be OK with this final payment or "relief effort" or whatever you would like to call it, as long as it came with signed documentation by the City, Provincial, and Federal government, and agreed to by those developing the Human Rights museum, that any further funds needed would be raised privately.

Posted by: Really?

April 27, 2011 at 12:26 PM

While I think a national museum outside of Ottawa is a good thing, I would have rather have seen money put towards our roads in the city. It's a crumbling nightmare.

Posted by: John Cuckaroo

April 27, 2011 at 12:27 PM

'St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel used stronger language.
"We should just shut up and get this done," he said.'

Wow talk about disrespecting the electorate. That's the precise problem here no one at the city cares about the tax payer.

Just raise the frontage levy and throw away $3.6M to a project, all the while who cares about the tax payer.

Just tell the tax payer to shut-up because we have to get this done. Nice.

Posted by: dagastino

April 27, 2011 at 12:35 PM

My councillor has just lost my vote. What a bunch of sheep.

Posted by: bogey1

April 27, 2011 at 12:54 PM

funny how the mayor is able to push thru increased property taxes for the people of Winnipeg, but let's the CMHR off the hook

Posted by: drumzan

April 27, 2011 at 12:57 PM

So we're struggling to find budget for roads...but we're able to magically come up with $3.6M for a museum that is not a primary need of this city? I don't get it. No wonder why Winnipeg NEVER puts in overpasses on any of our "freeways" or "highways" crowded with light intersections. Gas prices are soaring, so we really need to start thinking ahead to make more efficient roadways.

Posted by: DAN6

April 27, 2011 at 1:30 PM

Why not just levy a new tax and call it the CMHR subsidy.

Posted by: notme

April 27, 2011 at 1:35 PM

I was at Seven Oaks pool last night. Almost every 2nd locker is broken. So they can't keep up our city pools but they can give more money to the Asper projects???

Posted by: bomberfan68

April 27, 2011 at 4:09 PM

I've seen the Asper residences in Winnipeg. They are clearly capable of picking up this tab themselves. So why aren't they? This is disgraceful and a slap in the face to many taxpayers who in the current economic times are one paycheque away from foreclosure or not feeding their kids. I'll never set foot in this museum and they are kidding themselves with their statement of how people will travel from across the country and continent specifically to visit the CMHR. Well, maybe the other rich donors will at least.

-- A revised FP story, found in print as well as online the next day, lumped the Museum tax break into a story about other decisions, entitled City finds $14.6M for three projects; Extra expenses won't boost 2011 budget. Still, the public was not pursuaded, and none of these comments got a single "thumbs down" from other FP readers.

Posted by: ErikW

April 28, 2011 at 8:31 AM

"City council found a way Wednesday to spend an additional $14.6 million on a trio of existing projects and programs without adding a dollar to its 2011 spending plans."

Talk about voodoo economics. I am a taxpayer. One way or another this is going to cost me. If the CMHR is getting $3.6 million dollars that was coming from the federal government to Winnipeg, what is that money NOT paying for? Roads, other infrastructure, etc.? So now there is $3.6 million LESS that could be used to fix our roads. At the very least the federal government has $3.6 million less for its programs.

When will people learn? WE are the taxpayers. If $3.6 million wasn't going to the Waterfront White Elephant, that money would be going to fix our city. Is city council suggesting that somehow $3.6 million worth of problems don't need to be fixed?

Thanks to the Mayor and his sheep for robbing Winnipeggers current and future.

Posted by: Just Me4

April 28, 2011 at 9:19 AM

Where is the accountability? Why are they coming to the financial well over and over again?
I will admit that I think this whole museum is a waste of money. That being said, the decision has been made to build it, so now we build it. However, that does not mean its a open cheque. There has to be accountability, this can not become (although it may already) a bottomless pit.

Posted by: null

April 28, 2011 at 9:58 PM

St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel used stronger language.

"We should just shut up and get this done," he said.

Ah yes, a familiar refrain from those who advocate strongly for an idea museum based on human rights.

I wonder where they'll put the freedom of speech zone. Oh yeah, there isn't one.

-- CBC was flooded with 87 comments about its online story, which highlighted Coun. Harvey Smith wondering aloud if this was the last council would see of the gimme-gimme always-gets Museum boosters:

ruralreaderstandard2011/04/27
at 4:00 PM ET At one time I was an enthusiastic supporter of this museum. However, it seems it is costing far more to construct than originally planned and the proposed exhibits do not adequately reflect the wishes of the taxpayers who are, for the most part, the largest contributors. I fear it is becoming a monument to the Asper legacy in this city as well as the faith that they are a part of.

hammeronstandard2011/04/27
at 4:21 PM ET Its a complete joke. These councillors get elected by shutting their mouths and then six months later they are doing whatever they want with our tax money. The whole coucil including the mayor should be thrown out of office... I just do not like my tax money being spent on museums when our mayor is trying to find ways to tax us extra to pay for our roads that are falling apart. This entire city council should be recalled by their wards and demand answers for this spending. This was not mentioned in the election campaign.. We need recall of our politicians in manitoba.

uThkUrBttrThnMestandard2011/04/27
at 5:55 PM ET I have now been trying for two years to get the city to clean up the nearby city operated park. The children's playground area is overgrown with weeds. The park was mowed only a single time last year. In short it is a disgraceful, unkempt mess. And yet there seems to be endless millions to throw at this museum and other private pet projects.

the wonder dogstandard2011/04/27
at 11:14 PM ETIt is becoming discouraging to always hear that the Human Rights Museum needs "more" money. If citizens of this city managed their personal finances like the forces behind this project they would have to be on welfare by now.

giulealstandard2011/04/28
at 7:16 AM ET Imagine if this money went to improving human rights in Manitoba, or to all the social programs who's federal funding was pulled from them this year..

I think it is great that there will be a human right's museum, but I am constantly appalled at the state of Winnipeg.

prairiegirl27standard2011/04/28
at 10:42 AM ET I'm supportive of the idea, but it seems like this museum project has been very poorly managed. I would like to see a full auditing of their books before they see a dime more in public money.

-- The Winnipeg Sun had run an editorial stating " City council should ignore the outstretched hands of museum officials asking for another handout from taxpayers"

The subsequent report of how Council did the opposite got responses like the following:

Madethistopost:

This is just mind boggling. Who the hell WANTS to go to this museaum when it's done? Where is the customer base that is going make it successful?

"Hey kids....where do you want to go this fine Saturday?"

"The Holosaust Museum dad!"

The money should have gone to fix our roads.

Nice going Sam & Company.

WpgSteve:
Continue to waste more of our money on this White Elephant.

You have told all of us, money is tight and you turn around and do this.

What a crock of BS when it comes to your pet projects.

Just like the new stadium.

Keep all of your backroom buddies happy as you continue to raise fees to support your so called good for the city.

Related: Tom Brodbeck's column in today's Winnipeg Sun "Spending disorder; Swandel crazy to blast prudent citizens"

Coming in Part Two: More reaction from the alternative and social media

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Museum for Human Rights ignores graveyard below

Last Thursday on TGCTS, a Metis researcher told of the significant areas of the Forks which had served as a burial ground for aboriginals for a century, and his attempts to get the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to acknowledge this.

Museum champion, Gail Asper did not return David Carriere's call, delegating the task of blowing him off to a flunky.

"Elders" had assured the Museum millionaires that their location was not a burial ground as " we would not have buried so close to the banks of the river".

CMHR head cheerleader Gordon Sinclair of the Free Press also brushed off the concerns, based on assurances from the museum's handpicked aboriginal "experts" that enabled the pet project of millionaires to proceed unabated.

Carriere explained, because of the significant financial support of FN organizations such as the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the Manitoba Metis Federation, if there was any notion that the construction was disturbing a native boneyard, there would be an uproar.

The truth about the bones beneath the floor was an inconvenient truth, for the human rights crowd of Manitoba.

Armed with extensive historical clippings and academic studies of the region, Carriere took his case to the vaunted Round Table consultations at the Forks in January, when CMHR officials ostensibly were asking for citizens to come forward with their ideas of which human rights stories the museum should tell.

As he described it, "THEIR JAWS WERE ON THE TABLE".

Carriere is not asking for construction of the Museum to stop.

He is not asking for existing structures to be torn down.

All he is asking for is a cairn, a plaque, a memorial, to allow visitors to the Forks and the CMHR to give pause and remember the exploitation of a native burial ground by land developers.

Apparently, for the Gail Asper's of the world, such an act would require too much time away from high-society hobnobbing and panhandling for donations from gullible school children and photo-op craving Premiers.

Carriere has yet to hear back about his suggestion from anyone connected to the Museum. Here is the letter he presented at the public session:

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to propose that the Canadian Human Rights Museum consider the destruction and exploitation of the Aboriginal graveyard of “The Winnipeg Forks Region” as an important story of human rights violation.

The existence of the Aboriginal graveyard at The Forks was consistently described by early visitors to the area as “unusually large”. This was attributed to the smallpox epidemics of 1781-1782. During this time half of the areas aboriginal population died.

This area was used for burial from ancient times till at least 1874 (see photo dated 1874). During this time the number of burials would have been enormous. At times, the Red River flooded. During these floods, much of the surface evidence of the graveyard would be destroyed. Still, the significance of the graveyard as a landmark is evidence by the Selkirk settlers.

For example; On September 15^th, 1817, the “Indian tombs” ½ miles south of Fort Douglas was described as the Southern boundary of their new constable’s jurisdiction (the north boundary being “7 Oaks”). It is likely though that most of the surface “tombs” were destroyed during the enormous flood of 1826. During this time it is said that very few surface structures (from within miles of the Red River) survived. This flood destroyed the fort at the forks which was later relocated to higher ground. Still, aboriginal people continued to bury their dead in this traditional graveyard.

After, Manitoba entered Confederation (1870); there became a huge emigration to Winnipeg. The cost of land in “down town” Winnipeg shot through the roof. Enormous profits could be made off land on main thoroughfares. The land South of Main Street and Portage Ave. was seen as too valuable to leave as an “Indian Burial Ground”. So, even areas that were recognized by all on lookers as an Aboriginal graveyard were “converted to other purposes”.

During this land development boom, a great number of aboriginal skeletons were unearthed. The citizens of Winnipeg were under no delusions. These remains were from “The Indian Burial Ground”. It was openly acknowledged in the newspapers of the time.

But, by then, the descendants of the buried were far away suffering on reservations. Some claimed that the aboriginals had abandoned the graveyard. And that gave them the right to use it as they saw fit. But, the separation of Canadian Aboriginals from their ancestor’s final resting place has historically been involuntary.

Some land within the old C.N. railyard is believed to be within the old graveyard. Some of these areas are not built upon. But, it is probably still the same story. The land is seen as too valuable to respect the Aboriginal dead.

David Carriere