Department of Canadian Heritage
The Department of Canadian Heritage, or simply Canadian Heritage (French: Patrimoine canadien), is the department of the Government of Canada that has roles and responsibilities related to initiatives that promote and support "Canadian identity and values, cultural development, and heritage."[2]
Department overview
1993
1,843.3 FTE (2019‒20)
- Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage
- Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie
- Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages
- Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities
- Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Physical Activity
- Hélène Laurendeau, Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage
- Gina Wilson, Deputy Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth; and Senior Associate Deputy for Canadian Heritage
- Isabelle Mondou, Associate Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage
The department is administered by the Deputy Minister, currently Isabelle Mondou, who is appointed by the Governor in Council,[3] and it reports directly to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, who is currently Pascale St-Onge.
Under its current mandate, the jurisdiction of Canadian Heritage encompasses, but is not limited to, jurisdiction over: the promotion of human rights, fundamental freedoms and related values; multiculturalism; the arts; cultural heritage and industries, including performing arts, visual and audio-visual arts, publishing, sound recording, film, video, and literature; national battlefields; the encouragement, promotion, and development of sport; the advancement of official bilingualism; state ceremonial and Canadian symbols; broadcasting, except in regards to spectrum management and the technical aspects of broadcasting; the development of cultural policy, including such policy as it relates to foreign investment and copyright; the conservation, exportation and importation of cultural property; the organization, sponsorship, and promotion of public activities and events, in the National Capital Region, that will "enrich the cultural and social fabric of Canada;" and national museums, archives and libraries.[3]
To fulfill these tasks, the department coordinates a portfolio of several agencies and corporations that operate in a similar area of interest. While the roles and responsibilities of Canadian Heritage have remained relatively constant over the years, the department and composition of its portfolio remain in flux due to continuing structural changes.
History[edit]
Founded on 25 June 1993,[4] the Department of Canadian Heritage was initially created by Kim Campbell from parts of several other federal departments, combining responsibility for official languages, arts and culture, broadcasting, parks, and historic sites, as well as programs in the areas of multiculturalism, citizenship, state ceremonial, amateur sport and the National Capital Commission.[5] In 1994, the Department of Canadian Heritage inherited Parks Canada from Environment Canada, as well as activities that formerly belonged to the Departments of Communications, of Multiculturalism and Citizenship, and of Fitness and Amateur Sport, and the Secretary of State.[6] Since then, Canadian Heritage has gone through several structural and portfolio changes.
In 2003, Canadian Heritage added the Public Service Staff Relations Board (PSRB) to its portfolio, while Parks Canada was returned to the jurisdiction of Environment Canada.[7] Eleven years later, in 2014, the PSRB was removed from the portfolio upon the enactment of the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board Act, which established the PSRB as a quasi-judicial tribunal that operates at arm's length from the government.[8]
In late 2008, the multiculturalism section of Canadian Heritage was transferred to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, then transferred back again in November, 2015.[9]
In 2018, the Status of Women secretariat moved out from the umbrella of Canadian Heritage to become its own department.[10]
In 2020, Canadian Heritage introduced established the Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat as part of its national Anti-Racism Strategy.[11]