> Here's more from the Committee that may be of interest: ''June 10, 2002 Empress of Ireland Artifacts: Keep them in Canada!!! There is great interest in and protest of the impending sale of 401 artifacts and 600 archival items to a collector in the United States. All of these items were legally salvaged from the "Empress of Ireland" or purchased from other collectors by diver Philippe Beaudry.
The Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board has recently denied Mr. Beaudry¹s second application to export these items....for now.
I have queried many museums across Canada to see if they would be interested in purchasing this collection for the Canadian appraised value of $1.5 million dollars. The only museum which believed the collection of artifacts would fall within its mandate was the Canadian National Museum of Science and Technology located in Ottawa. The question is whether this museum can afford to pay $750,000. The Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage has indicated that it will provide a grant for the other half of the fair purchase price. Mr. Beaudry has indicated he would be willing to take $750,000 over a five year period if the other half was paid immediately.
At present, I believe negotiations are being carried on between this museum and the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board.
On June 8, I had the opportunity to meet with MP Anne McLellan at a function totally unrelated to this issue. Ms. McLellan is well aware of the situation and asked me "What more do you want us to do?". A very good question.
If negotiations go well and the purchase can be made, Canadians will be getting out the champagne.
But what if the Canadian National Museum of Science and Technology cannot afford to pay all of $750,000?
My answer is: "Let Canadians be given the opportunity to help this museum purchase the collection!" ( For example: 7,500 Canadians donating $100 each would complete the purchase.)
Canadians will be outraged if discussions break down and it is suddenly announced that the Export Review Board will allow the collection to be exported before we are given the chance to help out. These Canadians represent a cross-section of our society... professors, divers, historians, writers, artists, ranchers,teachers, collectors and authors to name just a few.
A huge network of people continues to keep Canadians informed of the latest developments. We are grateful for the responses shown by the Rt. Hon. Joe Clark, MP Anne McLellan, MP Bill Blaikie, MP Loyola Hearn, and MP Kevin Sorenson.
We remain determined to keep the artifacts in Canada!
Marion Kelch Box 72, Czar, Alberta TOB OZO Phone (780) 857-2340
Back