Make RCMP heritage centre a national museum: MP

Saskatchewan's lone Liberal MP wants special status for Regina's RCMP Heritage Centre.

Wascana MP Ralph Goodale wants the museum to receive National Museum status, which would mean long-term funding and higher operating standards.

Ottawa recently pledged to give the museum $2.1 million over the next two years in order to keep the doors open over the short term. The heritage centre had asked for financial help after seeing a dip in the number of visitors.

"While the belated news is welcome that the Harper government is finally putting a bit of operating money into the RCMP Heritage Centre, this is a one-time-only commitment … They say they're buying a couple of years for the Centre to come up with a long-term plan for itself," Goodale said.

"That's fine, but the goal should already be clear.  The RCMP Heritage Centre needs to be declared a "national" museum of Canada."

He said the museum should have the resources to change exhibits more often.

"It's a story that's constantly moving, so the heritage centre would have to be constantly in motion as well," he said.

"It needs to be able to renew itself, and to tell the story in new and different ways."

The centre is being asked to develop a long-term feasibility plan.

Goodale said celebrating the history of the RCMP "is certainly a matter of national importance.