Selling the National Arts Centre?

This would be a funny parody of the worst of Conservative policy. But it appears to be no joke.

Critics appalled by idea of selling NAC; Move will incense
arts community, Dewar says; Flaherty insists Tories aren't planning
'fire sale'
The Ottawa Citizen
Wed Jun 3 2009
Page: A5
Section: News
Byline: Bruce Ward
Source: The Ottawa Citizen; with files from Canwest News Service

New Democrat MP *Paul Dewar* took pride in the National Arts
Centre when he was growing up in Ottawa during the 1970s.

Now Dewar is appalled that the Harper government may be considering selling the NAC, and other flagship Crown corporations.

"I have no idea what they're thinking and what, politically, they
could get out of this, except the ire of people who support the
arts," Dewar said Tuesday.

Dewar recalled the central role the NAC played in Canada's cultural
development, particularly in its first years.

"When my cousins came up from the States, first we took them to the Parliament buildings and then the NAC," said Dewar, who represents Ottawa Centre. "I remember going to a play and dinner in the restaurant and thinking this is like Buckingham Palace."

Finance Department documents obtained by Canwest News Service
contain a list of Crown corporations, including the NAC, the CBC and VIA Rail, that the government may put up for sale.

James Morton
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