HAY RIVER - Federal government cuts from last fall are now hitting the Hay River Heritage Centre.

Peter Osted, co-chair of the Hay River Museum Society, said the organization won't get a grant it had hoped for to stabilize the heritage centre building.

Peter Osted, co-chair of the Hay River Museum Society, looks over the foundation of the Hay River Heritage Centre. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

The building's south and east ends are sinking into swampy ground. The problem is not noticeable from outside, but a slanting floor on one section of the building is obvious upon entering.

"It's not unsafe at this point, but it will become that way in a year or two if something is not done," Osted said.

The museum society had hoped to get a grant of $8,000-$12,000 this spring. Of that amount, $6,000 would have been used to stabilize the building, and the remainder for other projects.

"It's going to be tough to do anything," Osted said.

The money is not available because of a $4.6-million cut to the Museums Assistance Program from the Department of Canadian Heritage.

The cut was part of $1 billion in spending reductions announced last September by the federal government.

"I can't see how they can defend it," Osted said of the cuts.

The museum society will now be looking for support from the territorial government, foundations, and service clubs.

"We'll also raise a bit of money from our own activities," Osted said.