This is wrong on many levels.
The Canadian Museum of Civilization, located in Gatineau just across the river from Ottawa, has accepted a $1-million sponsorship from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, the lobby group that represents the oil and gas industry.
CAPP’s sponsorship is directly supported by Enbridge Pipelines, Inc., TransCanada Corporation, Kinder Morgan Canada, Total E&P Canada, Shell Canada Ltd., and numerous other corporations.
The Canadian Press reports this morning that, “CAPP, along with Canada’s Oil Sands Producers, will provide $200,000 annually for five years in return for which the Canadian Museum of Civilization will link a number of exhibits to the industry. The sponsorship is flagged as helping fund ‘1867’, an exhibit that will show in 2014 and 2015 leading up the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.”
It’s important to note that, “The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and Imperial Oil ran into controversy in 2011 when they sponsored exhibits at the federal Museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa. Documents later showed they had exerted pressure to alter exhibit content they felt treated the industry too harshly.”
“Once fully-funded public institutions across the capital are now seeking corporate sponsors. The July 1 Canada Day shows on and around Parliament Hill this year, for instance, were funded in part by the Chicken Farmers of Canada, Loblaws Group of Companies, McDonald’s Canada, Lego Canada and others.” In late May, Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow spoke against this kind of corporate sponsorship.
The first CAPP funded exhibit – on snow – is reportedly to open on December 7.
This is perhaps fitting. Last November, CBC reported, “An Environment Canada study has revealed the presence of contaminants in snow near oilsands mines. …The researchers found snow near the oilsands contained toxic substances dangerous to fish eggs. The study doesn’t say anything about the potential effect on mammals that eat snow. …In 2009, University of Alberta biologist David Schindler also found contaminants in snow near the oilsands.”
Further reading
Federal agency looks to corporate sponsors
