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?