New artifact facility cancelled

There will be no new artifact storage facility in Murray River for the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation, Cultural Affairs Minister Carolyn Bertramsaid Thursday.

The government will spend $75,000 torenovate the current storage facility, which is in West Royaltyon the outskirts ofCharlottetown, to ensure the artifacts aren't damaged while an overall plan for heritage in the province is being developed, Bertram said.

The Murray River facility was being promoted by the former Progressive Conservative government as an economic boost for the area.

Bertram said the new government plans to work with the Northumberland Community Development Corporation to come up with other development plans for the community.

The state of the current "artifactory" has been the targetof complaints for years. It is not only overcrowded, but a leaky roof threatens many stored artifacts.

During the election campaign, the Liberals promised they would begin planning for the building of a museum to properly display the province's heritage. Bertram said the government hopes to have a plan in place in time for the spring 2008 session of the legislature.