Unions donate to Canadian Museum for Human Rights

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights received a big boost to its fundraising campaign this week with a $170,000 donation on behalf of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) and four of its Component unions.

The donation was announced at the 60th convention of the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union (MGEU/NUPGE) which was held October 24-25 in Winnipeg.

The donation came from NUPGE, the MGEU, the New Brunswick Union of Public and Private Employees (NBU/NUPGE), the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE), and the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE).

The Museum has been established as a national museum by the Government of Canada. Located in Winnipeg, it will be the first national museum to be built outside of Ottawa and the first national museum to be created in 41 years.

It is expected to cost $265 million to build and $22 million a year to operate the Museum. The federal government has committed $100 million to the capital costs and will cover the annual operating expenses. The Manitoba government and the city have agreed to pitch in $20 million each. Organizers hope to have it open sometime in 2010.

The Museum will be the largest human rights centre in the world. It will be dedicated to advancing the publics understanding of human rights in Canada and throughout the world with a special focus on equipping and educating young people to become human rights leaders and advocates.