Just a single complaint led the feds to pay $103,000 to fix up a statue outside the post office in Stouffville, Ont..It was in the riding of cabinet minister Jane Philpot, whose staff took extraordinary steps to get the restoration on “The Lemon” done, says Blacklock’s Reporter..“This is an urgent request,” read a 2019 staff email..“This project requires urgent attention as the minister’s office is monitoring the project status and has included awarding the contract as a potential future ministerial event.”.“There may be media attention,” read a separate department memo..Employees were instructed to say: “The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the heritage and culture of Canada through the preservation of works of art in our care,” and misrepresent the cost of the project at $34,000..Staff did not want to “create a stir about this sensitive situation,” wrote one manager..The nine-foot fiberglass sculpture was installed in 1973 under a now-disbanded federal program to commission public art..“In March 2018, a member of the public contacted the MP for Markham-Stouffville, Minister of Indigenous Services Jane Philpott, to express concerns about the deteriorating condition of a sculpture outside the post office,” wrote staff..Costs were budgeted at $78,000 for removal and restoration at an Ottawa workshop and $22,000 for staff salaries, later increased to $24,900 – a total of more than $103,000. Records show the ministerial order had employees scrambling.. It’s a lemon! Feds pay $103K to fix up statue in minister’s riding .Staff drove the 100 km round trip from Toronto to photograph the statue, contacted the Art Gallery of Ontario, commissioned the Canadian Conservation Institute to “assess the condition” of the fiberglass, researched the identity of the forgotten artist at the federal archives in Ottawa and considered hiring surveyors to determine who owned the property..“To be absolutely 100% sure we would need to go out and do a survey,” wrote on employee..“What exactly do you need to confirm?” replied another. “Are you expecting us to do a survey on the property?”.Staff concluded “The Lemon” was on Crown land, not a municipal easement or Canada Post property..“We are ultimately trying to determine ownership,” e-mailed one staffer. “We’ve been on this case for weeks now,” replied a co-worker..Minister Philpott’s office was “not satisfied,” wrote a political aide. “This is very embarrassing.”.The Department of Public Works also acknowledged errors in a notice to contractors that disqualified one bidder..The sculpture was removed in 2019. Philpott resigned from cabinet on March 4 that year and subsequently lost re-election in the 2019 campaign..The department withheld the Access To Information records for two years and only disclosed the documents after Blacklock’s formally complained to the Office of the Information Commissioner.
