Friday, March 29, 2024

It cost $30,126 to remove the Sir John A. Macdonald statue in Victoria

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A statue of Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. MacDonald, has been the centre of controversy since its removal from the front steps of Victoria City Hall in August.

Now, reports are coming in from the city that the entire removal operation cost $30,126.

Removed on August 11th, 2018, the metal statue had been in place since 1982, and was removed by mayor Lisa Helps in an effort to foster reconciliation between Canada and its indigenous people.

The decision was reached following a year-long process in which the city started a Witness Reconciliation Program. A little over two weeks after its removal, Helps issued a public apology and promised to relocate the sculpture.

The full breakdown of the $30,126 operation includes:

Salary and Benefits

• $12,446 in policing costs
• $9,303 for city staff costs

(Total $21,749)

Equipment

  • $3,774 for concrete services
  • $2,110 for crane services
  • $1,443 for other equipment
  • $694 for plaque installation materials
  • $356 for fencing

(Total $8,377)

Moving the statue garnered national attention, and the Angus Reid Institute reports that the majority of Canadians did not support the removal.

More recently, an Ontario professor visited Victoria last week to host a presentation on the incident.

Currently, the likeness of John A. MacDonald is being held in city storage where it will remain until a decision on where to relocate it is made.

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Adam Chan
Former Staff Writer at Victoria Buzz.

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