'We thought we had it right': B.C. cancels $789M redevelopment plan for Royal B.C. Museum

The B.C. government's $789-million plan to redevelop the Royal B.C. Museum has been cancelled, Premier John Horgan announced Wednesday afternoon.

The project was announced on May 13 and was met with swift backlash from opposition parities, who described the plan as out of touch with the needs of British Columbians.

The $789-million plan would have seen the museum close in September, with a new one built at the same site with an opening date eyed for 2030.

"Today I am announcing we are stopping the project and are going back to the drawing board," said Horgan.

"We're asking the board and the CEO and the team at the Royal B.C. Museum to engage the public fully to ensure that we can come back and have a positive statement that all British Columbians can be behind."

The museum will remain open indefinitely, said Horgan.

The premier says the decision to cancel the museum redevelopment came after listening to residents.

Horgan says he "heard the people of British Columbia that we are making the wrong decision at the wrong time."

"We thought we had it right, clearly we did not," he added.