Museums Act (S.C. 1990, c. 3)

Marginal note:Capacity and powers

• 12 (1) In furtherance of its purpose, the Canadian Museum of Nature has the capacity and, subject to this Act, the rights, powers and privileges of a natural person and in particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Canadian Museum of Nature may

  • (a) collect natural history objects and other museum material;

  • (b) maintain its collection by preservation, conservation and restoration and the establishment of records and documentation;

  • (c) sell, exchange, give away, destroy or otherwise dispose of natural history objects and other museum material, other than primary type specimens, in its collection and use any revenue obtained therefrom to further its collection;

  • (d) exchange with, lend to or borrow from any other organization or person any exhibits, museum material, knowledge or information;

  • (e) organize, sponsor, arrange for and participate in travelling exhibitions, in Canada and internationally, of natural history objects and other museum material in its collection and from other sources;

  • (f) undertake and sponsor any research, including fundamental or basic research and theoretical and applied research, in the natural sciences, with special but not exclusive emphasis on its collection, and in museology, and communicate the results of that research;

  • (g) provide facilities to permit qualified individuals to use and study its collection;

  • (h) create new knowledge and synthesize existing knowledge into new patterns and models and provide a taxonomic data base for biological and geological research;

  • (i) foster the coordination of collection-based research in natural history in Canada;

  • (j) promote scientific literacy and a better understanding of nature by demonstrating the interrelationships among all organisms, including human beings, and their environment;

  • (k) inform the academic, scientific and technical community and the public of its discoveries and understanding of nature by such means of education and communication as are appropriate;

  • (l) provide expertise in natural history and provide informed advice and opinion on issues dealing with the natural world;

  • (m) establish authoritative centres for the identification of natural history objects and specimens;

  • (n) create and foster, through programs, functions and facilities, active public involvement and interest in the Canadian Museum of Nature, both at the community level and throughout Canada;

  • (o) establish and foster liaison with other organizations with a purpose similar to its purpose;

  • (p) share the expertise of its staff by undertaking and sponsoring programs for training and apprenticeship in the professional and technical skills involved in the operation of other organizations with a purpose similar to its purpose;

  • (q) assist, cooperate with and enlist the aid of other organizations with a purpose similar to its purpose;

  • (r) provide advice and expertise on museology, education and communication;

  • (s) acquire property by gift, bequest or otherwise and hold in trust or otherwise, expend, invest, administer and dispose of that property;

  • (t) develop, operate and maintain branches or exhibition centres;

  • (u) operate restaurants, lounges, parking facilities, shops and other facilities for the use of the public;

  • (v) lease or otherwise make available any of its facilities to other persons; and

  • (w) charge for goods, services and admission and use the revenue obtained therefrom for its own purposes.

• Marginal note:Restriction

  (2) The Canadian Museum of Nature may not deal with property otherwise than in accordance with the terms, if any, on which it was acquired or is held.