Transition Material 2021 — Overview of the Department of Canadian Heritage

On this page

• Department of Canadian Heritage Overview
• Graphic Representation
• Legislative Responsibilities under the PCH Portfolio
• Biographies

Department of Canadian Heritage Overview

Introduction

Who we are

The Department of Canadian Heritage’s mandate is at the heart of what it means to be Canadian. The Department’s 2,000+ diverse employees, arrayed throughout the National Capital Region and five regions across the country, work to promote an environment in which all Canadians are able to participate in dynamic cultural experiences, celebrate Canada’s history and heritage, and help build vibrant communities from coast to coast to coast. By doing so, the Department supports the commitments of the Government of Canada, grows the country’s cultural and creative industries, as well as celebrates and shares Canada’s stories both at home and around the world.

The Department is also responsible for sport in Canada at the federal level, and enhances opportunities for Canadians to participate and excel in sport through national policy leadership and strategic investments in the sport system.

Together with 16 Portfolio organizations and partners across the country, Canadian Heritage plays a vital role in the cultural, civic, sporting and economic life of Canadians. The Department supports arts and culture, heritage, sport, multiculturalism, official languages and citizen participation, as well as diverse initiatives related to Indigenous languages and cultures, and youth.

What we do

The Department’s mandate is set out in the Department of Canadian Heritage Act and centres on fostering and promoting “Canadian identity and values, cultural development, and heritage.” The Act includes a range of specific responsibilities, as set out in federal statutes and regulations, as well as Orders in Council. The Department is also responsible for administering multiple statutes, including the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, the Broadcasting Act, the Copyright Act, the Official Languages Act (part VII) and the Indigenous Languages Act.

In addition, the Department shares responsibility for administering the Physical Activity and Sport Act with the Public Health Agency of Canada. The Sport Canada branch leads this work at the Department, fulfilling a leadership role for national sport policy and administering three funding programs. Together, these three funding programs make the federal government the largest funding contributor to the country’s sport system.

To achieve its objectives, Canadian Heritage collaborates with a wide range of partners from the private sector, creative enterprises, public institutions, national sport organizations and other non-governmental organizations to enrich cultural experiences, strengthen identity, and promote participation in sport and community life.

Through a range of levers including funding programs, regulatory policies, stakeholder engagement and federal/provincial/territorial collaboration, the Department plays a significant and ongoing role in the lives of Canadians. Moreover, this role is becoming increasingly vital, given an evolving and at times uncertain operating environment.

• The rise of new technologies and digital platforms is radically changing the way Canadians create, access, and experience culture, necessitating new methods of supporting Canadian artists, creators and cultural industries in a global marketplace.
• The Canadian population is growing increasingly diverse, presenting both opportunities and challenges. For instance, Canada can play an influential role in promoting diversity domestically and globally and to share the lessons of its unique historical experience as a multicultural, bilingual, treaty nation with the shared values of human rights.
• The Government of Canada is committed to openness, transparency and modern service delivery. Canadians want their business with government to be user-friendly, timely and efficient and our programs to achieve concrete results that make a difference in their lives.

All these trends require the Department to constantly adapt, assess and act in the interests of Canada and Canadians to advance its mandate and responsibilities. In doing so, Canadian Heritage continues to play a key role in promoting and celebrating an innovative, inclusive and prosperous society in which all Canadians can reach their potential.

Organizational Overview — Department of Canadian Heritage

This table lists expected expenditures for the Department for the 2021-2022 financial year.

Type of Expenditures	Amount	2021-2022 Full-Time Equivalents (Planned)
Operating	$210.3M	-
Grants and Contributions	$1,298.5M	-
StatutoryTable 1 note *	$27.8M	-
2021-2022 Main Estimates	$1,536.6M	1,860.0

Table 1 notes

Table 1 note *

Mostly for contributions to employee benefit plans

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Description

In 2021–22, the Department will access $1.5 billion in funding. Its 2000+ employees represent roughly 1,860 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions spread across the National Capital Region and five regional offices;

• Atlantic region (consisting of Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick);
• Quebec region;
• Ontario region;
• Prairies and Northern region (consisting of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut);
• Western region (consisting of Alberta, British Columbia, and Yukon).

Each year, the Department delivers approximately $1.3 billion in grants and contributions to support its objectives, making up more than 85 percent of its total budget of $1.5 billion, which is distributed through a variety of funding programs across the Department’s five Sectors:

• Community and Identity Sector, including the Anti-Racism Secretariat and Youth Secretariat and Portfolio Affairs
• Official Languages, Heritage and Regions Sector;
• Cultural Affairs;
• Sport, Major Events, Commemorations and Capital Experience;
• Strategic Policy, Planning and Corporate Affairs..

In 2021–22, the Department will continue to advance governmental priorities across its five core areas of responsibility. These five core areas of responsibility are:

• Creativity, arts and culture;
• Heritage and celebration;
• Sport;
• Diversity and inclusion;
• Official languages.

In addition, the Department’s internal services provide horizontal support in a variety of fields, including communications and information technology. These areas of responsibility will now be explored in greater detail.

Creativity, Arts and Culture

This table lists expected expenditures for the Creativity, Arts and Culture area of responsibility for the 2021-2022 financial year.

Type of Expenditures	Amount	2021-2022 Full-Time Equivalents (Planned)
Operating	$41.0M	-
Grants and Contributions	$449.3M	-
StatutoryTable 2 note *	$5.6M	-
2021-2022 Main Estimates	$495.9M	423.7

Table 2 notes

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Mostly for contributions to employee benefit plans

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Description

Canadian Heritage’s responsibility in this area is to ensure that a wide range of Canadian artistic and cultural content is accessible at home and abroad, and provides opportunities for Canadians to participate and engage in Canada’s creative life, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion. The Department aims to foster creativity, innovation, growth and employment opportunities in Canada’s cultural sector, as well as in the creative economy. The Department’s work in this area also supports policy, legislative and regulatory measures; delivers funding programs that support creation, professional training, cultural infrastructure and arts presentation; develops business development and marketing initiatives; and establishes partnerships in Canada and abroad.

Sub-Program Areas

Arts

This program area provides opportunities for Canadians to engage with the arts, contributes to the vitality of the arts sector and deepens the connections between cultural organizations and their communities. Further, it also encourages access and participation, resilience and excellence in the arts for all Canadians by supporting institutions that offer artists and performers training of the highest calibre in preparation for professional careers; the presentation of professional arts festivals or performing arts series; the development of cultural infrastructure; the development of business practices of arts and heritage organizations; and the development of partnerships in the sector. Finally, it provides advice to senior management and the Minister on policies, legislation and regulatory measures for the arts sector.

Supporting Activities

• Canada Arts Presentation Fund
• Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
• Canada Cultural Investment Fund
• Canada Arts Training Fund
• Harbourfront Centre Funding Program

Cultural Marketplace Framework

This program area supports marketplace conditions for a strong, innovative and competitive cultural sector. This is accomplished through measures that foster the creation of and access to diverse Canadian cultural content that is valued at home and abroad. The program area conducts monitoring, research and analysis of emerging trends, of industry performance and of the needs and interests of Canadians to provide evidence-based policy advice related to the cultural marketplace. It is responsible for policy development and advice to ensure a responsive legislative and policy framework in support of Canada’s cultural sector and the role it plays in enriching the cultural, social and economic fabric of Canada. This includes the Broadcasting Act, Canada’s Policy on Audiovisual Treaty Coproduction, the Investment Canada Act and the Copyright Act. This program area also conducts and provides advice on international trade negotiations related to Canada’s cultural interests.

Supporting Activities

• Broadcasting and Digital Communications
• Copyright Policy
• Trade Policy and Negotiations
• Cultural Sector Investment Review
• Film and Video Policy
• Digital Citizen Initiative

Cultural Industries Support and Development

This program area fosters the creation, development of, and access to diverse Canadian cultural content at home and abroad. Through the delivery of grants, contributions, and certification for tax credit purposes, the Department ensures that a wide range of Canadian content is produced across a variety of media, including books, periodicals, music, film and television, and innovative applications on multiple platforms. This program area also encourages sound and sustainable business and industry practices and the establishment of partnerships at the national and international levels. This program also co-administers the following refundable tax credit programs with the Canada Revenue Agency through audiovisual production certification: the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, and the Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit. This program area also provides advice on policies, legislation and regulatory measures for cultural industries.

Supporting Activities

• Canada Book Fund
• Canada Media Fund
• Canada Music Fund
• Canada Periodical Fund
• Creative Export Strategy
• Film or Video Production Tax Credit
• TV5

Heritage and Celebration

This table lists expected expenditures for the Heritage and Celebration area of responsibility for the 2021-2022 financial year.

Type of Expenditures	Amount	2021-2022 Full-Time Equivalents (Planned)
Operating	$44.8M	-
Grants and Contributions	$48.7M	-
StatutoryTable 3 note *	$6.3M	-
2021-2022 Main Estimates	$99.8M	295.1

Table 3 notes

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Description

The Department’s work in this area creates opportunities for Canadians to participate in celebrations and commemorations of national significance, as well as in local festivals and heritage events. The Department invests in the development of learning materials and experiences that give Canadians opportunities to enhance their understanding of Canada’s history. It facilitates access to heritage and provides support to heritage institutions to preserve and present heritage to all Canadians. It also delivers projects, programs and services; grants, contributions and tax incentives; conducts research; provides authoritative information and expertise; and supports the implementation of heritage-related legislation.

Sub-Program Areas

National Celebrations, Commemorations and Symbols

This program area offers opportunities for Canadians to participate in celebrations and commemorations of national significance. Celebrate Canada funding allows Canadians across the country to come together at community events celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day on June 24, Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27, and Canada Day on July 1. Notable people, places, symbols, anniversaries and accomplishments of national significance are recognized across Canada through Commemorate Canada funding, as well as in Canada’s Capital Region through monuments, interpretation, and visitor experience programming. Events and activities in Canada’s Capital Region showcase all aspects of Canada’s diversity, feature Canadian talent and Canadian symbols, and reach Canadians across the country. Canadian symbols are promoted and protected, and protocol, traditions and cultural heritage are woven throughout State events and activities. The program also supports the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Supporting Activities

• Capital Experience
• State Ceremonial and Canadian Symbols
• Celebration and Commemoration Program

Community Engagement and Heritage

The Building Communities through Arts and Heritage (BCAH) Program provides grants and contributions in support of local festivals, community anniversaries, and capital projects. Funding is made available to stakeholders presenting arts and heritage festivals and events that emphasize local engagement. Its objective is to engage citizens in their communities through performing and visual arts, as well as through the expression, celebration and preservation of local history and heritage. BCAH has three components: 1) Local Festivals supports recurring festivals that involve the whole community and give opportunities to local artists and artisans to engage in their communities and/or celebrate local history and heritage; 2) Community Anniversaries supports one-time commemorations through activities that celebrate a major anniversary (100 years and then increments of 25 years) of a significant local person or event; and 3) Legacy Fund supports tangible, lasting capital projects that commemorate or celebrate a major anniversary (100 years and then increments of 25 years) of a significant local person or event.

Supporting Activities

• Building Communities through Arts and Heritage Program

Preservation of and Access to Heritage

The Preservation of and Access to Heritage Program ensures that Canada’s cultural heritage is preserved and accessible to Canadians today and in the future. This is accomplished by providing funding (such as grants, contributions and tax incentives); information, expertise, training and other services; and regulatory and legislative measures. The primary goal of this program is to promote the preservation and presentation of Canada’s cultural heritage.

Supporting Activities

• Museums Assistance Transfer Payment Program
• Canadian Conservation Institute / Canadian Heritage Information Network
• Canada Travelling Exhibitions Indemnification Program
• Movable Cultural Property Program

Learning about Canadian History

The Canada History Fund encourages Canadians to learn about Canada’s history, civic life, and public policy. The Fund provides funding through agreements in support of the development and/or enhancement of learning materials, the organization of learning and developmental experiences, as well as the establishment and maintenance of networks. Through various partnerships within government and through key national history and civics sector organizations and post-secondary educational institutions, the Fund gives Canadians opportunities to enhance their understanding of Canada, thus building an informed and engaged citizenry.

Supporting Activities

• Canada History Fund

Sport

This table lists expected expenditures for the Sport area of responsibility for the 2021-2022 financial year.

Type of Expenditures	Amount	2021-2022 Full-Time Equivalents (Planned)
Operating	$12.3M	-
Grants and Contributions	$234.3M	-
StatutoryTable 4 note *	$1.5M	-
2021-2022 Main Estimates	$248.1M	97.2

Table 4 notes

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Mostly for contributions to employee benefit plans

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Description

The core concept of this area of responsibility is to enhance and promote Canadian participation and excellence in sport, by providing funding, expertise and other services to Canadian athletes, sport organizations, stakeholders and event organizers. This is done by Sport Canada, which supports a spectrum of activities from initial introduction to sport through to the highest level of performance. Support is provided in the form of funding, policy leadership and other services. In collaboration with other stakeholders, Sport Canada seeks to strengthen the Canadian sport system. Sport Canada ensures that the system provides Canadians access to sport programs and services that are safe and welcoming to Canadians of diverse backgrounds, ages and abilities. The program area provides direct support to Canadian athletes to foster the development of high-performance athletes. Through national policy leadership and funding, Sport Canada also supports the development of coaches, officials and leaders and sport organizations. The program area also works directly with organizations hosting the Canada Games and international sport events in Canada.

Supporting Activities

• Hosting Transfer Payment Program
• Sport Support Transfer Payment Program
• Athlete Assistance Transfer Payment Program

Diversity and Inclusion

This table lists expected expenditures for the Diversity and Inclusion area of responsibility for the 2021-2022 financial year.

Type of Expenditures	Amount	2021-2022 Full-Time Equivalents (Planned)
Operating	$18.1M	-
Grants and Contributions	$133.6M	-
StatutoryTable 5 note *	$2.1M	-
2021-2022 Main Estimates	$153.8M	180.5

Table 5 notes

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Mostly for contributions to employee benefit plans

Return to table 5 note * referrer

Description

This area of the Department’s work focuses on celebrating Canada’s diversity, identity and multicultural heritage, promoting resilient communities and reinforcing the rights of Canadians, as a means to foster diversity and inclusion. It promotes and supports domestic implementation of international human rights treaties, constitutional, and quasi-constitutional rights in Canada. It also works in collaboration with a variety of governmental and non-governmental organizations (e.g., Canadian Race Relations Foundation, Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, etc.) to support the provision of programs and services on matters of diversity and inclusion. Work in this area also supports the engagement, participation and inclusion of Canadian youth in their communities and in exchange activities. It also revitalizes, preserves, and promotes Indigenous languages and cultures, celebrates achievements, and strengthens Indigenous communities through investments in a variety of initiatives.

Sub-Program Areas

Multiculturalism

The objectives of the Multiculturalism Program are to build an integrated, socially cohesive society; to improve the responsiveness of institutions to the needs of a diverse population; and to engage in discussions on multiculturalism, integration and diversity at the international level. The Program provides grants and contributions to organizations for projects and events that promote intercultural/interfaith understanding, equal opportunity for individuals of all origins, and that foster citizenship, citizen engagement, and a healthy democracy. It undertakes public outreach and promotion activities that are designed and delivered to engage Canadians on multiculturalism issues. The Program’s ongoing public outreach and promotional activities include Asian Heritage Month, Black History Month and other initiatives. The Program is designed to implement requirements set out in the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, including the development of the Annual Report on the Operation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, which is tabled in Parliament. The Program’s international engagement supports Canada’s participation in agreements, such as the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, and in institutions that address multicultural issues globally.

The Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat, established from Building a Foundation for Change: Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2019-2022 and reporting to the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Branch, leads work across government to coordinate federal action and identify and develop further areas for action through engagement with racialized and religious minority communities and Indigenous Peoples, stakeholders and other levels of government.

Supporting Activities

• Multiculturalism Program
• Anti-Racism Secretariat

Human Rights

The Human Rights Program seeks to strengthen and maintain one of the core values relating to Canadian identity—respect for human rights—by addressing barriers to active participation that arise from a lack of awareness, understanding, and access to rights. It manages federal-provincial/territorial consultations and collaboration among governments in Canada with respect to adherence to and domestic implementation of international human rights instruments, including intergovernmental coordination of Canada’s reporting obligations (reports, appearances and follow-up to treaty bodies’ recommendations). It provides policy advice in developing Canada’s positions on emerging human rights issues and promotes human rights instruments through the dissemination of human rights information. Through the Court Challenges Program, it supports access to justice in order to assert and clarify human rights and official language rights that are guaranteed by the Constitution, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the Official Languages Act. The Court Challenges Program funds cases of national significance that have the potential to create precedents (test cases).

Supporting Activities

• Human Rights Program
• Court Challenges Program

Indigenous Languages and Cultures

The Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program, formerly the Aboriginal Peoples’ Program, supports the continuation of Indigenous cultures and languages as living elements of Canadian society. The Program contributes to the efforts of Indigenous peoples to reclaim, revitalize, strengthen, and maintain their Indigenous culture and languages by funding innovative and culturally appropriate projects.

Supporting Activities

• Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program
• Northern Aboriginal Broadcasting
• Territorial Languages Accords
• Scholarship and Youth Initiatives and National Aboriginal Achievement Awards

Youth Engagement

This program area strengthens youth attachment to Canada by increasing youth participation and helping young Canadians learn about Canada, create linkages with each other, as well as better appreciate the diversity and shared aspects of the Canadian experience. The program area provides funding to eligible organizations in support of youth-led initiatives and domestic travel-based exchanges and forums for Canadian youth. In general, the program area aims to increase awareness among youth participants of the importance of being active and engaged citizens, strengthening their sense of belonging to Canada and, therefore, their sense of Canadian identity.

The Youth Secretariat is responsible for the federal implementation of the Youth Policy and supporting the Prime Minister’s Youth Council. The Secretariat engages across the federal government to provide advice on youth initiatives and to encourage the inclusion of youth voice in government decision-making. As one of the Youth Policy commitments, the Secretariat is also responsible for the State of Youth Report, which explores how young people in Canada are doing.

Supporting Activities

• Exchanges Canada Program
• Youth Take Charge
• Youth Secretariat

Official Languages

This table lists the expected expenditures for the Department for the Official Languages area of responsibility for the 2021-2022 financial year.

Type of Expenditures	Amount	2021-2022 Full-Time Equivalents (Planned)
Operating	$20.2M	-
Grants and Contributions	$432.7M	-
StatutoryTable 6 note *	$1.9M	-
2021-2022 Main Estimates	$454.8M	150.9

Table 6 notes

Table 6 note *

Mostly for contributions to employee benefit plans

Return to table 6 note * referrer

Description

The Department’s work in this area supports the promotion of Canada’s two official languages in Canadian society and the development of official language minority communities in collaboration with organizations and provincial and territorial governments. It fosters a coordinated approach to ensure participation from across the federal government in the implementation of the Official Languages Act and the coordination of related horizontal initiatives.

Supporting Activities

• Development of Official Language Communities Program
• Enhancement of Official Languages Program
• Official Languages Coordination Program

Internal Services

This table lists expenditures for the Internal Services area of responsibility for the 2021-2022 financial year.

Type of Expenditures	Amount	2021-2022 Full-Time Equivalents (Planned)
Operating	$73.8M	-
Grants and Contributions	$0M	-
StatutoryTable 7 note *	$10.3M	-
2021-2022 Main Estimates	$84.1M	712.6Table 7 note **

Table 7 notes

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Mostly for contributions to employee benefit plans

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Table 7 note **

Note that the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) estimate for the Department also reflects a small number of FTEs assigned to support other organizations in various capacities. This includes 19 FTEs supporting the hosting of Parks Canada on the Department’s SAP Financial System, and other FTEs assigned on a part-time basis or when needed (e.g., processing requests for security clearances, and providing Information Technology support for the Canada Cultural Property Export Review Board).

Return to table 7 note ** referrer

Description

Finally, Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that allow the Department to support programs or meet its corporate obligations. The 10 service categories are: Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Management Services; Real Property Management Services; Materiel Management Services; and Acquisition Management Services.

Conclusion

Canadian Heritage is focused on achieving service excellence to Canadians in a work environment that supports shared values, employee engagement and professional development. The Department takes pride in its diverse and passionate workforce, whose unique skills help accomplish the Department’s goals and objectives in a dynamic global context.

As illustrated by the breadth of the Department’s programs and responsibilities, the scope and diversity of Canadian Heritage’s activities are vast. In a global environment of unremitting technological change, a shifting marketplace and new paradigms of engagement will test the Department’s capacity to deliver. To rise to these challenges, Canadian Heritage will continue to work with communities and individuals across this country, striving to build public policies that better serve the aspirations of all Canadians, from coast to coast to coast.

Grants & Contributions Programs (in dollars)^{Table 8 note *}- Department of Canadian Heritage

Core Responsibility	Grants and Contributions Program	Grants	2021-22 Contributions	Grand Total
Creativity, Arts and Culture	Canada Arts Presentation Fund	31 750 000	727 742	32 477 742
	Canada Arts Training Fund	–	22 779 440	22 779 440
	Canada Book Fund	38 500 000	4 666 301	43 166 301
	Canada Cultural Investment Fund	20 000 000	1 972 205	21 972 205
	Canada Cultural Spaces Fund	7 000 000	47 168 717	54 168 717
	Canada Media Fund	–	134 146 077	134 146 077
	Canada Music Fund	–	26 799 231	26 799 231
	Canada Periodical Fund	72 775 054	2 499 544	75 274 598
	Creative Export Canada	–	7 000 000	7 000 000
	Digital Citizen Contribution Program	–	2 082 263	2 082 263
	Harbourfront Centre Funding Program	–	6 500 000	6 500 000
	Local Journalism	–	10 000 000	10 000 000
	TV5/TV5 Monde	8 000 000	4 690 900	12 960 900
Creativity, Arts and Culture — Total		178 025 054	271 302 420	449 327 474
Heritage and Celebration	Building Communities through Arts & Heritage	17 555 000	100 000	17 655 000
	Canada History Fund	1 150 060	2 787 330	3 937 390
	Celebration and Commemoration Program	8 000 000	2 494 367	10 494 367
	Museums Assistance Program	4 663 680	11 076 284	15 739 964
	Grants to Lieutenant-Governors of the provinces of Canada toward defraying the cost incurred in the exercises of their duties	836 080	–	836 080
Heritage and Celebration — Total		32 204 820	16 457 981	48 662 801
Sport	Athlete Assistance Program	33 000 000	–	33 000 000
	Hosting Program	–	21 565 247	21 565 247
	Sport Support Program	–	179 697 679	179 697 679
Sport — Total		33 000 000	201 262 926	234 262 926
Diversity and Inclusion	Anti-Racism Action Program	–	7 971 712	7 971 712
	Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program	7 000 000	6 083 659	13 083 659
	Exchanges Canada Program	100 000	18 086 359	18 186 359
	Court Challenges Program	–	4 979 734	4 979 734
	Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program	33 750 000	54 121 221	87 871 221
	International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance	–	44 450	44 450
	Youth Take Charge	100 000	1 353 023	1 453 023
Diversity and Inclusion — Total		40 950 000	92 640 158	133 590 158
Official Languages	Development of Official-Language Communities Program	60 742 973	243 091 079	303 834 052
	Enhancement of Official Languages Program	15 194 842	113 623 289	128 818 131
Official Languages — Total		75 937 815	356 714 368	432 652 183
Grand Total		360 117 689	938 377 853	1 298 495 542

Table 8 notes

Table 8 note *

Numbers are based on 2021-22 Main Estimates

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Graphic Representation

The infographic is also available in PDF format 696 KB.

Who we are at the Department of Canadian Heritage (on September 13, 2021)

What we do (2021–22)

16 Portfolio Organizations

Legislative Responsibilities under the PCH Portfolio

A. The Department of Canadian Heritage Act

As Minister of Canadian Heritage, you derive your powers and responsibilities from the Department of Canadian Heritage Act (the PCH Act), the laws under your responsibility as Minister of Canadian Heritage, as well as the various mandates you have been conferred.

Subsection 4(1) of the PCH Act provides that “the powers and functions of the Minister extend generally to all areas of Parliament's jurisdiction not assigned by right to other federal departments or agencies and related to Canadian identity, values, cultural development and heritage”.

Subsection 4(2) specifies that the areas of jurisdiction of the Minister of Canadian Heritage include:

• the promotion of a better understanding of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the values which derive from them;
• multiculturalism;
• the arts, including the cultural aspects of the artist's status;
• cultural industries and heritage, including performing arts and plastic and audiovisual arts, sound editing and recording, film, video and letters;
• national battlefields;
• the encouragement, promotion and development of sport;
• progress towards equality of status and use of French and English and the promotion and development of the French-speaking and English-speaking minorities in Canada;
• state ceremonial and Canadian symbols;
• broadcasting, except for spectrum management and technical aspects of broadcasting;
• the formulation of cultural orientations, in particular with regard to foreign investment and copyright;
• conservation, export and import of cultural property;
• the organization, sponsorship and promotion, in the national capital region within the meaning of section 2 of the National Capital Act, of activities and public events enriching for Canada in terms of cultural and social, given the federal character of the country, the equal status of Canada's official languages and the heritage of Canadians;
• national libraries, archives and museums.

B. List of legislation under the Responsibility of the Minister of Canadian Heritage

The following statutes are, in whole or in part, administered by the Minister of Canadian Heritage or organizations in the Canadian Heritage portfolio:

• Department of Canadian Heritage Act
• Broadcasting Act
• Canada Council for the Arts Act
• Canada Travelling Exhibitions Indemnification Act
• Canadian Multiculturalism Act
• Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act
• Copyright Act (formulation of cultural policy)
• Cultural Property Export and Import Act
• Fitness and Amateur Sport Act
• Foreign Publishers Advertising Services Act
• Income Tax Act (Tax credits, National Arts, Service Organizations and cultural property)
• Indigenous Languages Act
• Investment Canada Act (Cultural Foreign Investment)
• Lieutenant-Governors Superannuation Act (in part)
• Library and Archives of Canada Act
• Museums Act
• National Arts Centre Act
• National Battlefields at Quebec Act
• National Film Act
• National Sports of Canada Act
• Official Languages Act (Part VII)
• Physical Activity and Sport Act (in respect of sport)
• Salaries Act (Lieutenant-Governors)
• Status of the Artist Act (Part I)
• Telefilm Canada Act

The following statutes, in whole or in part, fall within the statutory mandate of the Minister of Canadian Heritage:

• An Act to Incorporate the Jules et Paul-Emile Léger Foundation
• Holidays Act
• Laurier House Act
• National Anthem Act
• National Horse of Canada Act
• National Symbol of Canada Act
• Sir John A. Macdonald Day and the Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day Act

Biographies

Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage

• Isabelle Mondou joined the Department of Canadian Heritage on October 22, 2018, as Associate Deputy Minister and, after being on assignment at the Privy Council Office as Deputy Minister for the COVID-19 Response (Communications) from April 2020 to April 2021, became Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage on May 3, 2021.
• On September 19, 2016, Isabelle was appointed Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Priorities and Planning) at the Privy Council Office. Prior to that, she was legal counsel to the Clerk of the Privy Council and Assistant Secretary (Democratic Reform).
• Isabelle joined Canada’s public service in 1994 as an employee of the Department of Revenue. She has held a wide range of positions, including in the Intergovernmental Affairs, Machinery of Government and Senior Personnel sections at the Privy Council Office.
• Isabelle has a Bachelor of Law degree (1989) and a Master of Law degree (1994) from the Université de Montréal. She was called to the Barreau du Québec in 1990. She practised law in the private sector, with a focus on administrative, environmental and municipal law.
• Isabelle is originally from the Laurentian region and has lived in Ottawa since 1996.
• She is the mother of two teenagers.

Deputy Minister of Women and Gender Equality, Deputy Minister, Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, and Senior Associate Deputy Minister for Canadian Heritage

• Gina Wilson rejoined Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) as Deputy Minister on September 1, 2021. She previously served as Deputy Minister of WAGE from 2017 to 2019, where she led the establishment of WAGE as a new department, ensured that GBA Plus was fully instituted in government, and served as the first Chair of the federal Indigenous Women’s Circle.
• Gina will continue in the role of Deputy Minister, Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, and Senior Associate Deputy Minister, Canadian Heritage, to which she was appointed on January 27, 2020, and where she oversaw the release of Canada’s first-ever State of Youth Report; engaged Canadians in a series of round tables and summits on anti-racism; lead the co-development of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Action Plan; and launched the development of a Canada-wide LGBTQ2 Action Plan. She is also currently the Deputy Minister Champion for Indigenous Federal Employees.
• In 2019, Gina was appointed as Deputy Minister, Public Safety Canada, and Senior Advisor to the Privy Council.
• She joined the Federal Government in 1996 and held several senior executive positions at several departments, including the Privy Council Office, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and Employment and Social Development Canada.
• Gina is Algonquin and began her career in her First Nation community of Kitigan-Zibi as Executive Director of Health and Social Services. She was also CEO of the Assembly of First Nations.
• Gina is the recipient of the 2020 Indspire Award for her leadership and her lifelong work on Indigenous issues and support for Indigenous employees.
• Gina holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Ottawa.
• She has three beautiful children – Dylan, Kayla and Royce – and treasures her granddaughter, Charlotte.

Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Cultural Affairs

• Joëlle Montminy was appointed to the position of Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of Cultural Affairs on February 22, 2021. Joëlle re-joined the PCH family in February 2020, as Assistant Deputy Minister, Sport, Major Events, Commemorations and Portfolio Affairs, after having held the position of Executive Director, Federal Secretariat of Canada 150 between 2014 and 2016.
• Joëlle Montminy has been with the federal public service for over 25 years. Before returning to PCH, she was Vice-President, Cultural Heritage and Indigenous Affairs at Parks Canada since 2017. In that role, she led commemoration and heritage conservation programs and acted as Canada’s head of delegation for UNESCO World Heritage.
• Before joining Parks Canada, she was Assistant Deputy Minister, Resolution and Individual Affairs at Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). Joëlle has extensive experience on Indigenous issues having held numerous positions at INAC in the area of policy, negotiations, litigation management and operations. She has also worked as Director of Policy for Intergovernmental Affairs in the Privy Council Office.
• Joëlle began her career with the Department as a policy analyst in copyright.
• Joëlle holds a Bachelor of Civil Law from Université Laval and a Master of Laws from the University of British Columbia.
• Joëlle is a busy mother of two teenage girls. When she is not driving them to their sports and artistic activities, she enjoys reading, running and kayaking.

Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Cultural Affairs

• Owen Ripley is Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Cultural Affairs and works closely with the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister to advance the Department’s mandate in the area of arts, culture, information and media.
• Over the last few years, as Director General of the Broadcasting, Copyright and Creative Marketplace Branch, Owen was instrumental in advancing the work on several complex initiatives which are now reaching maturity. These include: modernization of the Broadcasting Act, review of the Copyright Act, adapting the policy framework of the Canada Media Fund, establishment of the Digital Citizen Initiative and the Indigenous Screen Office program, and leading policy development related to online harms and news media remuneration.
• Prior to this, he was Chief of Staff at the Office of the Deputy Minister where he provided daily operational support and strategic advice to the Deputy Ministers on all matters requiring their attention.
• Owen has a Common Law and a Civil Law degree as well as a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from McGill University.

Assistant Deputy Minister, Community and Identity

• Charles Slowey rejoined Canadian Heritage as Assistant Deputy Minister in September 2018. He came to the Department from the Canada Border Services Agency, where he was the Director General of Global Border Management and Data Analytics and, up until recently, the Director General of Commercial Programs. During his time at the Agency, he led the development and implementation of a data analytics strategy and the commercial programs transformation and modernization agenda.
• With over 25 years of public service, Charles has a broad range of experience, including in service delivery, strategic planning, issue and project management and communications. Earlier in his career, he served as Director General of Communications at Industry Canada, Canadian Heritage, Environment Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
• Charles received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and French Literature from Carleton University.

Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, Planning and Corporate Affairs

• David Dendooven joined the Department of Canadian Heritage as Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, Planning and Corporate Affairs on February 4, 2019.
• David came to the Department from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada where he occupied the position of Director General, Strategic Policy, Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs. He held the position from January 2017 and, until December 2018, also served in the same capacity for Indigenous Services Canada.
• In addition to having served as Corporate Secretary at the former Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, David served for several years at the Privy Council Office as the Director of Strategic Policy, Machinery of Government and, prior to that, in various counsel positions at the Department of Justice.
• David has a Baccalaureate of Laws (L.L.B) and a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours Political Science), both from the University of Ottawa. He is also a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Assistant Deputy Minister, Official Languages, Heritage and Regions

• Julie was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister of Official Languages, Heritage and Regions in January 2021.
• Julie Boyer joined the Public Service of Canada in 2000. She has held several senior policy research and development positions in the departments of Canadian Heritage, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
• In 2012, she delivered the International Polar Year 2012 Conference before joining the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development to advise the Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials during Canada’s Chairmanship of the Artic Council.
• In 2014, Julie joined the department of Natural Resources Canada as Chief of Staff to the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Minerals and Metals Sector and became Director of the International Affairs and Trade division in February 2015.
• In June 2017, she became Deputy Head of the Canada-US Horizontal Task Group at Natural Resources Canada and coordinated the department’s participation in NAFTA negotiations. While at Natural Resources Canada, Julie was the Departmental Co-Champion for Official Languages and secured support and funding to launch a Change Leadership Office.
• In May 2018, Julie joined the Department of Canadian Heritage as Director General of Trade and launched the Creative Export Strategy.

Assistant Deputy Minister, Sport, Major Events and Commemorations

• Emmanuelle Sajous became Assistant Deputy Minister of Sport, Major Events and Commemorations on February 22, 2021. Emmanuelle joined PCH in August 2018 as Director General of Major Events, Commemorations and Capital Experience.
• Emmanuelle, born in France and having grown in Moncton, New Brunswick, holds a master's degree in public administration and a certificate in law. She also undertook doctoral studies in political sciences at l'Université Laval before being recruited as a management trainee in the public service in 1992.
• After working for a number of federal institutions including the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the Public Service Commission and the Privy Council Office, she joined the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General where she was appointed Deputy Secretary of Honours and Deputy Herald Chancellor in 2005. Emmanuelle was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, the insignia of Chevalier de l'Ordre national du Mérite from the French government in 2015 for distinguished services as well as the Vice-Regal’s Commendation in 2017.

Chief Financial Officer

• Éric Doiron has been Chief Financial Officer and Director General, Financial Management for the Department of Canadian Heritage since August 2019. Prior to his appointment, Éric was the Acting Deputy Chief Financial Officer since January 2018.
• Before that, he was Director, Governance, Reporting and Resource Management, at the Federal Secretariat Canada 150 at the Department of Canadian Heritage, from 2014 to 2018. In his 20 years of experience with the public service, Éric has gained a wide variety of experience in the field of corporate financial services.
• Éric has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Finance) from the University of Moncton and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Quebec in Outaouais. He also holds the titles of Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

Director General of Communications

• Chantal Reinert became Director General of Communications at Canadian Heritage on May 7, 2018.
• Chantal has over nineteen years of experience in the federal government, where she has managed large teams and complex files. Before taking on her current duties, Chantal held a number of executive positions in ECCC’s Communications Branch, including Acting Director General; Executive Director, Strategic Communications; and Director, Ministerial Services.
• Before joining ECCC, Chantal held a number of positions with increasing levels of responsibility in the field of communications, including with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian International Development Agency and Health Canada. She began her career as a radio and television journalist for Radio-Canada and RDI in Edmonton, Windsor and Ottawa.
• Chantal holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the Université de Montréal. She is a proud basketball mom of a teenage boy and a young adult.

Director General of Human Resources and Workplace Management Branch

• France Guèvremont became Director General of Human Resources and Workplace Management at Canadian Heritage on April 19, 2021.
• France joined the public service in 1991 and has taken on increasing and varied human resources responsibilities over the course of her career, which included positions at Employment and Social Development, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Department of Finance, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and the Canada Border Services Agency.
• France graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Social Science with a Double Major in Political Science and Sociology in 1991. She has completed the Strategic Human Resource Leadership Program for heads of HR at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto (2020) and completed a certification in Character Leadership from the Ivey Business School, Western University (2021).
• France is originally from the Ottawa region. She is dedicated to her family and is especially proud of her daughter.

Executive Director and General Counsel of the Canadian Heritage Legal Services unit

• Pierre-Paul Trottier was appointed as Executive Director and General Counsel of the Canadian Heritage Legal Services Unit on February 8, 2021.
• Pierre-Paul joined the Business and Regulatory Law Portfolio (BRLP) in November 2017 as Director and General Counsel at ESDC-VAC Legal Services. In this capacity, he saw to the delivery of legal Services in respect of a wide range of ESDC business lines, such as the Labour Program, the Employment Insurance Program, the Temporary Foreign Workers Program, the Canada Summer Jobs Program, the Office for Disability Issues, and litigation related to the Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security Pension.
• Pierre-Paul holds both a Civil Law degree and a Common Law degree, and is a member of both the Quebec and Ontario Bars. He spent most of his career as a tax law litigator in the Quebec Regional Office (Ottawa), where he appeared before all levels of court in Quebec and Ontario, as well as before the Tax Court, the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal. In addition to personally arguing cases before the Courts, Pierre-Paul managed a team of litigators and support staff in the 9 years prior to him joining BRLP.

Corporate Secretary

• In April 2016, Jenny Ratansi-Rodrigues became Corporate Secretary at Canadian Heritage.
• Jenny joined Canadian Heritage in 1999, holding a variety of positions including Director of Regional Affairs—working with Canadian Heritage regional offices—and Director of Community Engagement Programs, after having worked in the Ontario Region. The majority of her career was spent in the voluntary sector for non-profit organizations.
• Jenny holds a degree in Early Childhood Education.

Chief Audit Executive

• In August 2018, Bimal Sandhu was appointed as Chief Audit Executive.
• Prior to that, Bimal had been working at Canada Revenue Agency since 2001. She has been an executive since 2015 and has over 15 years of experience in internal audit.
• Bimal is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and a recipient of the 2013 William S. Smith CIA – Certificate of Honors Award from the Institute of Internal Auditors. She holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Toronto, and an Honours Bachelor of Science from Queen’s University.

Ombudsman and Director of the Office of Values and Ethics

• In November 2019, Lise Laneville was appointed as Ombudsman and Director of the Office of Values and Ethics.
• Prior to that, Lise served as Director, Arts Policy, in the Cultural Affairs Sector. In this role, she was responsible for managing the public policy development process and socio-economic research projects in support of the development and analysis of cultural sector policies and programs.
• Lise has been working in the Department since 2000. She has held various positions in the Cultural Affairs Sector. Prior to joining the public service, Lise worked as an administrator in the not-for-profit sector and at the University of Ottawa.
• Lise has a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Sociology) and Certificate in Business Administration from the University of Ottawa.