The Quebec History Federation calls for a national museum that includes all Quebecers
The Quebec History Federation is calling for the National Museum of Quebec History to include all groups in Quebec society, including anglophones, Indigenous peoples, immigrants, and women, among others.
"We need to tell the history of all Quebecers. (...) The museum must reflect what Quebec is and bring public debates, controversial periods, and subjects to light," explained the federation's Director-General, Jean Rey-Regazzi, on Tuesday during the consultations on Bill 64, which aims to establish the museum.
They are also requesting that the museum be "apolitical."
Minister of Culture Mathieu Lacombe expressed his full agreement, saying that the museum must "tell the history of all Quebecers."
"The Quebec nation was born from many encounters," he said.
Even before the start of the consultations at the National Assembly, concerns had been raised about the government's museum project, suggesting it might present too narrow a vision of Quebec identity and history.
During the announcement of the project, Premier François Legault said that he wanted the museum to tell Quebec's history starting from Champlain.
These remarks were criticized by the Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL), Ghislain Picard.
"We are inseparable from the history of this land, and the arrival of Champlain does not define Quebec. The First Nations have been present here for millennia and are deeply connected to this territory they inhabit," he said in a statement in May.
Legault had to defend his museum project, assuring that Indigenous communities would have a place in it.
The national museum project follows the CAQ government's abandonment of its network of 'blue spaces' due to skyrocketing costs approaching one billion dollars.
In 2021, the Legault government had planned to build 18 new museums called "blue spaces" that would have been dedicated to Quebec culture.
An initial construction budget of $259 million has been allocated. The new museum will be located in the Camille-Roy pavilion of the Quebec Seminary. It is scheduled to open in spring 2026 at a cost of $92 million.
-This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Sept. 17, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau's 2024: Did the PM become less popular this year?
Justin Trudeau’s numbers have been relatively steady this calendar year, but they've also been at their worst, according to tracking data from CTV News pollster Nik Nanos.
Back on air: John Vennavally-Rao on reclaiming his career while living with cancer
'In February, there was a time when I thought my career as a TV reporter was over,' CTV News reporter and anchor John Vennavally-Rao writes.
The winter solstice is here, the Northern Hemisphere's darkest day
The winter solstice is Saturday, bringing the shortest day and longest night of the year to the Northern Hemisphere — ideal conditions for holiday lights and warm blankets.
Death toll in attack on Christmas market in Germany rises to 5 and more than 200 injured
Germans on Saturday mourned both the victims and their shaken sense of security after a Saudi doctor intentionally drove into a Christmas market teeming with holiday shoppers, killing at least five people, including a small child, and wounding at least 200 others.
Poilievre writes to GG calling for House recall, confidence vote after Singh declares he's ready to bring Liberals down
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has written to Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, imploring her to 'use your authority to inform the prime minister that he must' recall the House of Commons so a non-confidence vote can be held. This move comes in light of NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh publishing a letter stating his caucus 'will vote to bring this government down' sometime in 2025.
Overheated immigration system needed 'discipline' infusion: minister
An 'overheated' immigration system that admitted record numbers of newcomers to the country has harmed Canada's decades-old consensus on the benefits of immigration, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said, as he reflected on the changes in his department in a year-end interview.
School custodian stages surprise for Kitchener, Ont. students ahead of holiday break
He’s no Elf on the Shelf, but maybe closer to Ward of the Board.
Kelly Clarkson's subtle yet satisfying message to anyone single this Christmas
The singer and daytime-talk show host released a fireside video to accompany her 2021 holiday album, “When Christmas Comes Around” that she dubbed, “When Christmas Comes Around…Again.
Pope Francis reprimands Vatican staff for gossiping in annual Christmas message
Pope Francis told Vatican bureaucrats on Saturday to stop speaking ill of one another, as he once again used his annual Christmas greetings to admonish the backstabbing and gossiping among his closest collaborators.