The Bangor Sawmill Museum in Meteghan River will be open this summer after all.
The board of directors announced last month the museum would be closed indefinitely after its application to the Canada Summer Job program had been rejected because they refused to endorse the attestation clause.
The Liberal government requires organizations seeking funding under the program to check a box affirming their support for constitutional rights and the right to reproductive choice, including access to abortion.
Museum spokesperson Gerald Comeau tells Acadia News that after the story went public, three donors contacted the museum.
“We got three calls in a row over the next couple of days. We were a little stunned but very, very pleased we were able to get funding to hire our summer student.”
The donors are from Calgary, Winnipeg and Windsor, Ontario.
In a release from the Bangor Sawmill, the summer student, Christien, says he’s thrilled to start his mill guide work. “it is difficult to get a first-time job. This will give me valuable experience to prepare for future employment when I eventually finish my education. I greatly appreciate what the donors have done.”
Bangor Commission president Lawrence Theriault also expressed his appreciation to the three benefactor. “Our volunteers, who had been discouraged by the rejection of our application, are pleased to continue donating their time and effort to the museum.”
Comeau, a retired Conservative senator says they still disagree with the attestation clause.
“It isn’t right. Government shouldn’t ask volunteers to do this kind of thing. Volunteers give their time to the community. What they should have asked was, somewhere along the lines of ” would you agree not to promote anti-abortion views or activities” and we would have done that immediately, but not to sign an attestation that our organization supports abortion rights. That’s just nor right.”
