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]
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.
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]
The department is an umbrella organization that has one of the largest portfolios in the Canadian federal government, and the organizations in the portfolio support the department in the pursuit of its priorities while also striving to achieve their individual mandates.[13]
The departmental framework (as of 2019–20) is:[14]
In addition to coordinating with the organizations in its portfolio, the department also partners with provincial and territorial governments to organize and oversee visits from the King of Canada and other members of the royal family.[15]
Structure
Canadian Heritage is administered by the Deputy Minister, currently Hélène Laurendeau,[16] who is appointed by the Governor in Council.[3] The Deputy Minister is accompanied by an Associate Deputy Minister (currently Isabelle Mondou) and a Deputy Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth and Senior Associate Deputy Minister (currently Gina Wilson).[17][18]
The department is divided into five different areas that each have their own Assistant Deputy Minister:[20]
Sport, Major Events, Commemorations and Portfolio Affairs — administered by the Assistant Deputy Minister, Joëlle Montminy
Community and Identity — administered by Assistant Deputy Minister, Charles Slowey
Cultural Affairs — led by Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Jean-Stéphane Piché
Strategic policy, Planning and Corporate Affairs — administered by Assistant Deputy Minister, David Dendooven
Official Languages, Heritage and Regions — administered by Assistant Deputy Minister, Julie Boyer
Portfolio
Organizations
All organizations of the Canadian Heritage portfolio report to Parliament through the same Minister. As of January 2021[update], the portfolio consists of:[21]
In 2020, the department had a budget of CA$3.89 billion[24]—this is an increase from the $3.66 billion of the previous year,[25] but a minimal decrease from the $3.9 billion budget of 2018.[26]
In the 2019‒20 fiscal year, the total actual spending of Canadian Heritage amounted to $1.55 billion and its total actual full-time equivalents were 1,843.3.[11]
Expenses
Through its Multiculturalism Programs, in 2019‒20, Canadian Heritage allocated more than $30 million of funding for 116 projects, 372 events, 56 "Community Support for Black Canadian Youth" initiatives, a "National Anti-Black Racism Education and Awareness" campaign, and 77 "Community Capacity Building" initiatives.
In 2019‒20, through its Creative Export Strategy (which is in its 2nd year), Canadian Heritage invested almost $7.2 million in 23 "export-ready projects" to support creative entrepreneurs in maximizing their export in the global marketplace. Launched in 2019–20 was the "Local Journalism Initiative" with an investment of $50 million over five years, supporting the creation of original civic journalism that covers the multidimensional needs of underserved communities across the country.[11] Partnering with TV5Monde public broadcasters, the Canadian government supported the creation of a French-language digital platform with an investment of $14.6 million over five years, beginning in 2019–20.
In June 2019, the Department's Legacy Fund supported the centennial anniversary of the Winnipeg general strike, funding a major monument across from Winnipeg's City Hall in the shape of a tipped streetcar, a reference to 21 June 1919, or 'Bloody Saturday'.
Grants and financial support
Canadian Heritage gives out roughly $1.2 billion in grants annually,[27] available for programs that contribute to the objectives of the department. These departmental objectives include those that relate to supporting culture, history, heritage, sport and Canada's official languages.[28]
The department requires that application forms be submitted by the deadlines that are specified under the application guidelines of the particular funding program in order to be considered for financial support.[30] A confirmation notice is sent by the department within two weeks of getting an application, and a decision on whether funding will be granted or not is made within thirteen to thirty weeks, depending on the funding program.[31] The first payment is made on or before the fourth week after the Department of Canadian Heritage has sent out a written notice that an application has been approved.[30]
Programs
In February 2020, the joint Human Rights Program submitted a report to the United Nations, Canada's Interim Report under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, coordinating input between the federal government and provincial and territorial governments.[11]
Also in 2020, Canadian Heritage introduced the national Anti-Racism Strategy, which includes the Anti-Racism Action Program, several new measures, and funding for hundreds of projects to "foster diversity and inclusion across the country." The department established the Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat as part of this strategy. Canadian Heritage was additionally given a new mandate to host and support the activities of two secretariats: the LGBTQ2 Secretariat, which promotes the societal contributions of LGBTQ2 communities and "ensures that [their] rights are protected;" and the Youth Secretariat, whose activities include "coordinating meetings of the Prime Minister's Youth Council and recruiting the next cohort of young people for the Council."[11]
In 2019, among the various celebrations supported by Canadian Heritage was the 50th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada. Also that year, Sport Canada supported the development of the "Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport." While the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo were postponed (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Canadian Heritage remained committed to Canadian athletes, high-performance athletes in particular.[11]
Programs and funds for culture, history and sport, 2021[update] (excl. COVID-19 support)[28]
Helps address barriers to employment, justice and social participation among Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities, and religious minorities. This program was created as part of the new national Anti-Racism Strategy in 2020.
Supports high-performance Canadian athletes who are preparing for and participating in international sport.
Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage
Supports community celebrations, such as festivals, events, and projects.
Canada Arts Presentation Fund
Provides financial assistance to organizations that professionally present arts festivals or performing arts series (arts presenters) and organizations that offer support to arts presenters.
Canada Arts Training Fund
Supports the training of artists with high potential through organizations that offer high-calibre training.
Canada Book Fund
Promotes a strong book industry that publishes and markets Canadian-authored books.
Canada Cultural Investment Fund
Encourages private-sector investment, partnership, and sound business practices to help arts and heritage organizations be better rooted and recognized in their communities.
Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
Supports the improvement of physical conditions for artistic creativity and innovation.
Provides financial assistance to Canadian print magazines, non-daily newspapers and digital periodicals.
Canada Travelling Exhibitions Indemnification Program
Assists eligible Canadian art galleries, museums, archives, and libraries by assuming financial responsibility for loss or damage to objects or appurtenances in eligible travelling exhibitions.
Offers paid post-graduate internships and curriculum internships that provide learning opportunities for the conservation community in Canada and abroad.
Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit
Supports Canadian programming and the development of an active domestic production sector.
Provides financial support to Canadians to bring cases of national significance related to constitutional and quasi-constitutional official-language rights and human rights before the courts.
Creative Export Canada
Provides funding contributions to Canadian organizations that wish to carry out an export project. In 2019‒20, the Strategy provided support for trade-related programming and activities on the margins of several international trade events, as well as holding 58 cultural events and 11 literary events in Germany in the lead up to Canada's 2020 "Guest of Honour" year at the Frankfurt Book Fair.[11]
Ensures that Canada's continuing memory is documented and accessible to current and future generations by adopting a more collaborative approach with local documentary heritage communities.
Economic Development Initiative
Learn about the funding available for activities related to business and economic development that encourage growth in Northern Ontario's Francophone communities.
Exchanges Canada
Helps youth to enhance their knowledge and understanding of Canada, while connecting with other young Canadians.
a bilingual, paid work experience that provides opportunities for post-secondary students to travel to another province.
Official Languages Support Programs
Promote French and English languages in Canadian society and enhance the vitality of English- and French-speaking communities in minority situations. In 2019/20, Canada supported the creation of the Francophone digital platform TV5MONDEplus.[11]
Sport Canada Hosting Program
Assists sport organizations to host the Canada Games and international sports events in Canada.
Sport Support Program
Supports the development of Canadian athletes and coaches.
Young Canada Works
Offers a variety of summer job and internship programs to job seekers and employers.
Youth Take Charge Program
Supports youth-led projects that exemplify the ability to strengthen youth attachment to Canada.
^Payette, Julie (2019-03-25). "Sovereign and Royal Family". The Governor General of Canada. Archived from the original on 2019-03-30. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
^Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (2015-11-17). "The Honourable Mélanie Joly MP". aem. Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
