Mother Canada project given $100K Parks Canada grant

A coalition of opponents ofthe Mother Canada memorial say Parks Canada gave the groupquarterbacking the project a$100,000 grant, even though the federal agency has said no public money is is being spent onthe proposal.

In a statement, Friends of Green Cove highlightinformation found on the Parks Canada website, dated February 17, 2014. A spokesperson from the coalitionsaysa lack of transparency puts Parks Canada's impartiality into question, now that Canadian tax dollars have been used to fund the project.

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The grant, paid to the Never Forgotten National Memorial Foundation, was disclosed as part of Parks Canada's Disclosure of Grant and Contribution Awards over $25,000.

Friends of Green Cove say Parks Canada officials have reiterated the memorial will be funded entirely through private meansand did not publicly acknowledge the $100,000 payment.

According to the Parks Canada page, the grant will help complete the memorial. In addition, it will "support the development of a digital communications platform and the market and visitation projection analysis."

CBC News has reached out to Parks Canada and is awaiting comment.