The Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War Museum are set to reduce permanent staff levels by 18 percent over the next three years following budget cuts announced by the federal government. Avra Gibbs-Lamey, a spokesperson for the history museum — which oversees the war museum as well — informed Radio-Canada that the number of permanent staff will decrease from 371 to 304. The cuts will primarily affect corporate roles that serve both institutions, with a 24 percent reduction in management positions.
Ruth Lau MacDonald, the regional executive vice-president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) for the National Capital Region, mentioned that the job cuts will impact a wide range of staff, including executives, security personnel, and tour guides. This could result in a more self-directed visitor experience and fewer interactions with subject experts, diminishing the depth of understanding offered by the museums.
Despite initial reports, Gibbs-Lamey clarified that the history museum has not reduced its frontline staff numbers. She emphasized that these cuts aim to position the Canadian Museum of History to better focus on its core mission, emphasizing ongoing research, top-tier exhibitions, and engaging Canadians with their history through innovative means.
Ines Akué, a spokeswoman for Canadian Heritage, highlighted that the staff reductions align with the priorities of the Canadian Museum of History, which seeks to enhance efficiency and ensure long-term flexibility in fulfilling its mandate. As part of the federal government’s spending review, the museum needs to achieve annual savings ranging from $2.4 million to $5.9 million.
Yves Bergeron, a professor of museum studies at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), noted that funding cuts are a global trend affecting museums worldwide. Bergeron suggested that sharing resources, such as having multiple institutions utilize the same archivist, could help mitigate the impact on visitor experiences.
There are concerns that the staff reductions could affect the Canadian Museum of History’s work with Indigenous communities and its efforts to repatriate Indigenous cultural artifacts. Despite these challenges, Gibbs-Lamey assured that projects related to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples remain a priority for the museum, underscoring their commitment to this fundamental aspect of Canadian history.