The Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War Museum are set to reduce their permanent staff levels by 18 percent over the next three years following federal budget cuts. Avra Gibbs-Lamey, a spokesperson for the history museum, revealed that the number of permanent staff will decrease from 371 to 304. The cuts will primarily affect corporate positions handling both institutions, with a 24 percent reduction in management roles.
Ruth Lau MacDonald, the regional executive vice-president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada for the National Capital Region, noted that the job cuts will impact various staff members, including executives, security personnel, and tour guides. This could potentially lead to a shift towards more self-directed tours and fewer interactions with subject experts, affecting the overall visitor experience.
While the Canadian Museum of History clarified that frontline staff numbers remain unchanged, Gibbs-Lamey emphasized that the cuts aim to enhance the museum’s focus on its mandate. The reductions align with the museum’s objectives to improve efficiency and ensure long-term flexibility to fulfill its mission, according to Ines Akué, a spokesperson for Canadian Heritage.
In a broader context, funding reductions for museums are a global trend as governments reduce funding, increasing pressure on museums to generate revenue independently, explained Yves Bergeron, a professor of museum studies at the Université du Québec à Montréal. Sharing resources between institutions, such as sharing archivists, could help mitigate the impact on visitor experiences, Bergeron suggested.
There are concerns that the cuts may affect the Canadian Museum of History’s ability to conduct research and fieldwork with Indigenous communities and repatriate Indigenous cultural artifacts. Bergeron highlighted the importance of the museum’s commitment to repatriation efforts, emphasizing the significant responsibilities of national museums in this regard.
Despite the budget adjustments, projects related to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples remain a priority for the museum, with Gibbs-Lamey emphasizing that the commitment to reconciliation and preserving Indigenous history remains unchanged.