Garneau Displeased For No Invitation to Unveiling of Canadarm at Museum

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The first Canadian to have entered space, Marc Garneau, asserted that he would have been honored to receive an invitation from the Conservative government to Thursday’s unveiling of the permanent Canadarm exhibit at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa. The priceless Canadarm robotic space arm was acquired by the Canadian Space Agency, and displayed publicly on Thursday by the Heritage Minister, James Moore, at an event co-ordinated with the museum and CSA.

However, in response to Garneau’s statement, federal officials asserted that the event could have been attended by anyone, including opposition MPs, while pointing out that Ottawa-Vanier Liberal MP, Mauril Bélanger, was present as well. However, Bélanger clarified that he was invited by the museum’s board of directors, and not the government. The Opposition MPs aren’t usually invited to government announcements, although a Liberal MP, Garneau, asserted that he would have liked to have been there. In a tweet from his official Twitter account, Garneau mentioned that “NASA-donated Canadarm officially unveiled in Ottawa today. Would really have appreciated invitation from (government) to attend. No such luck. ”

Consequently, Moore informed reporters that it would have been great if Garneau had attend, though he clarified that the invitations were sent by the museum and the Canadian Space Agency, and not inspected by a minister’s office. Additionally, Moore mentioned that “the museum and space agency could invite whoever they wished. Mr. Garneau was welcome to attend, as was Mr. Belanger,” adding that “we didn’t make a secret of it. Anyone could come.”