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Article Published February 16, 2005 Help Save the Archives of Ontario By Rick Roberts, Global Genealogy & History Store The Archives of Ontario building on Grenville Street in Toronto has been deteriorating for many years. Inadequate and unsafe housing of existing historical collections has already resulted in records being lost. The provincial government's reluctance to provide a purpose-built archives building will lead to even greater losses of the tangible evidence of our province's history. Problems with the existing building include:
From a heritage point of view, the danger of inaction is that future generations will be unable to access collections that provide knowledge of their province's heritage. From an economic point of view, the dollar value of the collections of the Archives of Ontario is diminishing as a result of losses of parts of collections from causes including flood and mould damage. A collection that has been valued at $250 million sits in the present facility, a 1960's office building that is cramped, unsound, and has no sprinkler system. Mould is spreading into the walls and to other records. The collections are gradually decaying and losing value at the rate of $13 million a year. Tax payers of Ontario should be very concerned that an asset, that is owned by the people of Ontario, is being allowed to waste away. From a political point of view, consider the impact of a catastrophic loss due to fire, flood, or structural collapse. Detailed planning for a new facility concluded about two years ago. That plan included provision for a new location that would be safe, accessible, financially responsible, and preserve Ontario's heritage for future generations. However, due to changing political priorities that plan was shelved. It is time to speak out. The actions of our elected representatives demonstrates that they believe that the people of Ontario have little or no concern for the preservation of the province's historical collections. The only way that their opinion is going to change is for a large number of people to express their case clearly and persistently. There are many ways to communicate your concerns. The most effective method is a written letter addressed directly to the person you wish to influence. Letters should clearly state your opinion in your own words. Form letters do not have the same weight as a thoughtful original piece of correspondence. Be brief. Express what you want and why. Ask for the reader's support. Try to get it done in a single page. Handwritten has more impact, if legible. Follow-up your letter with a phone call. Confirm that your letter was received. Use the opportunity to summarize your points and ask for support. Be brief and persuasive. Avoid confrontation, conflict and threats. Remember that you are selling an idea... clearing a misunderstanding, expressing that Ontario's heritage is important to you and your descendants. Don't count on someone else to do it. Politicians are influenced with numbers. Thoughtful and credible letters from many individuals concerned with a single topic, will raise the profile of an issue within any riding, or elected government. Email is gaining acceptance as a method of communication however it is not as effective as a letter on paper for many politicians. If you cannot put the time aside to write and mail a letter, email is better than no communication. If you are sending a letter, consider sending an email to inform that a letter is on the way, summarize your points, and ask the reader to consider supporting your position. Some points you may want to include in your communication
Hon. Gerry PhillipsThe Hon. Gerry Phillips is the minister responsible for the Archives of Ontario. He is the elected member of provincial parliament for Scarborough - Agincourt and the Chair of Management Board of the Cabinet of Ontario. Management Board is responsible for The Archives of Ontario. Contact information: Hon. Gerry Phillips Minister at Management Board Secretariat, 77 Wellesley St W, 12th Flr, Ferguson Block, Toronto ON M7A 1N3. Tel : 416-327-2333 email: gphillips.mpp@liberal.ola.org 
Premier Dalton McGuintyManagement Board is under the responsibility of Premier Dalton McGuinty. Personal communication to Premier Dalton McGuinty is recommended, however it may be appropriate to CC him on your correspondence to your MPP and to the Hon. Gerry Phillips. Contact information: Premier Dalton McGuinty Queen's Park, Rm 281, Main Legislative Building, Toronto ON M7A 1A4 Tel : 416-325-1941 Fax : 416-325-7578 email: dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org Your local MPP (residents of Ontario only) To locate contact information for your Minister of Provincial Parliament, or if you do not know who your PROVINCIAL member is, go to the Elections Ontario web site and click on "Find Your Electoral District" (near top, right-hand side of web page) The search result will give you the contact information for your member of parliament.
Room 200, North Wing, Legislative Building, Queen's Park, Toronto ON M7A 1A8 email: john.tory@pc.ola.org Howard Hampton, Leader, New Democratic Party of Ontario Queen's Park, Rm 114, Main Legislative Building, Toronto ON M7A 1A4 email: hhampton-qp@ndp.on.ca John Yakabuski Conservative Critic, Management Board of Cabinet Room 202 North Wing Legislative Building, Queens Park M7A 1A8 email: john_yakabuski@ontla.ola.org Michael D. Prue New Democratic Party of Ontario, Critic, Management Board of Cabinet Rm 153, Main Legislative Building Toronto ON M7A 1A4 email: mprue-qp@ndp.on.ca Rick Roberts Shopping Cart & Order Desk Global Genealogy & History Shoppe 1-800-361-5168 ( 9-5 Monday to Friday )
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