That’s right, pay me $10 per month, and I’ll host the National “Portrait Gallery” here for free—well for $10 to cover the extra bandwidth that will be incurred at PTBC when all 43 Canadians and others come here to view it, each month.
No I changed my mind. That $10 per month would be a total waste of taxpayers’ money. I’ll just continue to paint my portraits of idiot Canadian politicians (mainly liberals), in my unique and accurate way, for free.
(Hat tip: The Patriot)
Tories pull plug on portrait gallery
Government looking at other uses for former U.S. embassy
The Conservative government, without confirming a decision publicly, is scrubbing plans for a national portrait gallery at the site of the former U.S. embassy on Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill and is considering other uses for the heritage building.
A senior Conservative confirmed the plan is dead following the publication last week of spending estimates in two departments that showed no further money designated for the gallery after this year.
But contract documents obtained through the Access to Information Act show the ill-fated project has already taken a sharp bite out of taxpayers’ pockets because of unexpected delays, contract amendments and design changes under the former Liberal government.
The cost of three major contracts for the gallery mushroomed by more than 50 per cent to $5.7 million because of nearly three dozen amendments for additional work—including a $30,000 study to project snowfall accumulation on nearby sidewalks and buildings—after the project began in early 2003.
When former Canadian Heritage minister Sheila Copps announced the gallery project in January 2001, the estimated price tag was $22 million. By the time then-heritage minister Liza Frulla unveiled the design in March 2005, following an earlier suspension of work under the Liberal government of Paul Martin, the expected cost had grown to $44.6 million.
By last April, with the only visible work completed outside the building being a decorative wooden hoarding along the sidewalk that cost $30,000, the government had spent a total of $9 million on architectural plans, mockups, mortar inspection, interior demolition and portrait gallery staff in a new Library and Archives Canada bureau.
Though a Canadian Heritage Department official insisted last week “there has been no decision,” a top Conservative insider told the Citizen “there will be no gallery” in the former embassy and historic portraits may instead be shown in cities across the country. […]
To show you how efficient I am (I’m a private citizen, and not a liberal!), here’s my first installment.
Here’s one of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Liberal, and one of his political advisors (and a pall bearer at his funeral) Fidel Castro, Communist.
More as time goes on. $44 million: saved. You’re welcome.
PTBC was founded by Mr. Johannesen in 2000.
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