Sober second look? National portrait gallery gets bipartisan Senate support

The reputation of the Red Chamber is still taking a beating after the actions and comments of senators Don Meredith and Lynn Beyak, and there are emerging accusations of gamesmanship, "threats," and legislative "ambushing," being lobbed across the aisles.

But there is one thing they seem united on turning the old U.S. embassy in Ottawainto a national portrait gallery.

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On Tuesday Liberal SenatorSerge Joyal, Conservative Paul McIntyre and Senator independentsPatricia Boveyand Douglas Black sent a letter toPrime Minister JustinTrudeauurging him to support resurrecting the gallery project for Canada's 150th birthday.

Fifty-five of the 99 sitting senators have signed on to the initiative, including members of the Conservative and Liberal Party caucuses as well as members of the independent senators group.

"National Archives' portraits should be its base, but the gallery should be much more vibrant, living, not just of the past but of the present," reads the letter, noting the archives has more than 20,000 portrait paintings and photographs.

"We believethe time has come to put this collection on display to tell the story of Canadians to CanadiansMany countries, including England, the United States and Australia have a permanent National Portrait Gallery. In London and Washington, for instance, young people make up the majority of attendees."

Abandoned building

The former U.S. Embassy at 100 Wellington St., a prominent spot across from Parliament Hill, was slated to become a national portrait gallery at the end of the Chrtien era.

An institution was created, with staff, but the largecollection of portraits never left the vault.