Media reports indicate this will change the focus of the museum to focus on Canadian history only, particularly the period since Confederation. This could eliminate the popular international travelling exhibits at the museum, such as the Maya exhibit currently on display.
No figures have been released ahead of the press conference concerning how much it will cost to rebrand the museum, which moved to its current location in 1989.
The change is being made ahead of the 150th anniversary of Canada’s confederation in 2017.
At least one advocacy group is concerned that the name change is an attempt by the federal government to wrest control of how Canadian history is framed.
“It is very likely that the announced changes to the Canadian Museum of Civilization will set the stage for further destruction of Library and Archives of Canada, abandon what has made the Museum of Civilization a model for the rest of the world and the most popular museum in the National Capital Region, and set the stage for a political recasting of Canadian history leading to Canada's 150th birthday in 2017,” stated a press release published by the Canadian Association of University Teachers.
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This is sad that in order to view international exhibits, we will now have to travel to either Montreal or Toronto. We have a world class museum in Ottawa, that will be made to look like a small country town relics house.