(Quebec) The future Blue Spaces are only a “political patent to please Prime Minister” François Legault, according to the Liberals of Dominique Anglade.
Posted at 4:56 p.m.
This new salvo from the Liberals comes at a time when MPs have taken part in the study of supply and scrutinized the spending and performance of the Ministry of Culture.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Liberal culture critic Christine St-Pierre accused Minister Nathalie Roy of having made these new museums a partisan political tool.
“The minister has […] said: “To choose the Blue Spaces, we consulted with the deputies of the CAQ”, protested Mme St Pierre.
The elected Liberal quoted a report of which she silenced the origin, where it is stated that “the choice of places and their acquisition are determined by the cabinet of ministers”.
“We find it absolutely absurd, because it shouldn’t be […] political tools, she hammered. It’s a political patent to please the Prime Minister! »
In June 2021, Prime Minister Legault proposed to redefine the concept of museum, with the creation throughout the territory of a network of Blue Spaces, places dedicated to the culture and history of Quebec.
The government was going to acquire heritage buildings in order to renovate and convert them to house permanent and temporary exhibitions related to regional historical figures.
The Blue Spaces will be “places to celebrate the pride of being Quebecers,” said the Prime Minister, who said he wanted to make them popular places that are not “boring” or “dusty”.
No Espace bleu has yet been opened in Québec, although three projects – in Québec, Amos and Gaspé – are currently undergoing preparatory work. In principle, there should be some in all regions of Quebec.
In addition to seeing this as a problem of partisanship and favouritism, Ms.me St-Pierre is convinced that the future Blue Spaces will compete with existing museums, which are suffering from a labor shortage.
” It’s not funny. Take the Côte-Nord region. […] Sept-Îles has a regional museum that is struggling. […] He’s going to lose his world, they’re going to lose their expertise, it’s going to go to the Blue Spaces. »
She recalls that the creation of the network will be supervised by the Museum of Civilization, which will offer employees excellent working conditions, according to her.
Minister Roy’s office assures us that the Blue Spaces will not compete with museums, but will rather offer a “complementary” approach.
In addition, of the three projects in progress, two are located in ridings that are not caquists, underlines the press secretary of the minister, Maxime Roy.
The ridings of Taschereau and Gaspé are represented respectively by Catherine Dorion, of Québec solidaire, and Méganne Perry Mélançon, of the Parti québécois.
“The selection is not made in terms of political party color,” according to Mr. Roy.