Federal government announces $3M for library renovations

Federal government announces $3M for library renovations. From left, federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Toronto Mayor David Miller, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Toronto Chief Librarian Jane Pyper and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Peter Kent at Friday's announcement of $3 million for renovations to the Toronto Reference Library. Staff photo/DAVID NICKLE

Amid unusually tight security Friday, Oct. 16, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a retinue of Conservative MPs joined Mayor David Miller at the Toronto Reference Library to announce that $3 million in federal infrastructure money would go to renovating the building.

The money represents one-third of the budget for a renovation to the library on Yonge Street north of Bloor Street. When it's finished in March 2011, the library will have an expanded public gallery, a new entrance way and new computer workstations.

"As a librarian here might put it, renovations to the Toronto Reference Library are long overdue," quipped Harper from the podium in a library meeting hall, to an assembly of invited guests and the news media, the latter of whom had been bused in from just two kilometres away.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office said the unusual security for what was a relatively small financial announcement was due to security concerns raised by the RCMP.

Harper joined Miller, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Peter Kent, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and city librarian Jane Pyper to peruse the library's archives in a photo session, before announcing the payment.

Mayor David Miller thanked Harper.

"I'd like to thank Prime Minister Harper for being here, and for your government's ongoing commitment to working with the City of Toronto to build and rebuild public infrastructure in Toronto," said Miller.

The library renovation will cost a total of $9 million, with the city and the provincial government contributing the remaining two-thirds.