Hon. Marty Klyne: Honourable senators, the 2019 mandate letter of the Minister of Canadian Heritage provided that the minister take steps to make the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Heritage Centre a national museum. The RCMP Heritage Centre is a magnificent building situated on the front lawn of the RCMP Depot Division — one of the most elite police training academies in the world.

The RCMP Heritage Centre is an incredible facility, telling the stories of the RCMP, the most unique police force in the world. With that comes difficult and good stories. All the same, that is our history; they are our stories. The RCMP is inextricably linked to the development of Western Canada, which presents many lessons to be learned and not forgotten.

However, the most recent mandate letter of the Minister of Canadian Heritage does not refer to making the RCMP Heritage Centre a national museum. Senator Gold, can you please update us on the progress of this file and clarify who the minister responsible is?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question, Senator Klyne. It underlines an important issue.

I will have to make inquiries to your specific question. But, as many senators know, there is a bill that is working its way through Parliament to set up a national commission on historic places and sites. I imagine that our discussion about that will also touch upon this important issue.

I will get back to the chamber with an answer as soon as I have received it.