Minister Joly Announces Government of Canada Support for the Coalition for Cultural Diversity

From: Canadian Heritage

News Release

OTTAWA, November 27, 2017

Over the last few years, the Government of Canada has made active efforts, both in Canada and abroad, to convey the importance and the need to celebrate cultural diversity. Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, underscored that commitment by announcing a one-time investment of $100,000 in the Coalition for Cultural Diversity.

The announcement highlights the importance that Canada assigns to cultural diversity, as demonstrated by its support of the organization that is the cultural milieu’s main voice in debates on culture and trade. The Coalition comprises 33 Canadian cultural associations representing artists, creators and businesses in the fields of literature, audiovisual production, music, visual arts and performing arts. Canadian Heritage works closely with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, a key partner in this matter.

The funding will allow the Coalition to continue hosting the secretariat of the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD) and to keep the Federation’s base in Montréal. The IFCCD comprises 43 partner coalitions established in as many countries since the adoption in 2005 of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

The IFCCD’s mandate, which is to defend the right of states to apply policies in support of cultural diversity in a global context, is consistent with the Government of Canada’s vision for an international strategy to promote cultural diversity in a digital world. This will help maintain and advance the objectives of the 2005 UNESCO Convention.

Quotes

“Canada recognizes the importance of cultural diversity. The support for the Coalition announced today will allow Canada to remain a world leader in this field. Our collective efforts to promote a wide range of content and viewpoints across multiple platforms help advance intercultural understanding, and they demonstrate our respect for our official languages, multiculturalism and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.”

—The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Multiculturalism

“The Canadian Commission for UNESCO is very pleased with Canada’s renewed leadership in the promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions. The investment announced today will allow the Coalition and its partners in Canadian and international civil society to broaden our understanding, in this digital age, of the challenges and opportunities presented by the implementation of one of UNESCO’s most important conventions.”

—Sébastien Goupil, Secretary-General, Canadian Commission for UNESCO

Quick Facts

  • The one-time funding of $100,000 will allow to Coalition to continue hosting the IFCCD Secretariat and maintain its activities in Montréal.

  • The Coalition for Cultural Diversity, headquartered in Montréal, was founded in 1998. It comprises 33 Canadian cultural associations that represent independent producers, distributors, publishers and artists.

  • The Coalition has played an important role, both in Canada and internationally, in the promotion, development and implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, which was adopted in 2005.

  • In June, Canada was elected for the third time to the Intergovernmental Committee responsible for the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

Associated Links

Contacts

For more information (media only), please contact:

Simon Ross
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
819-997-7788

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
pch.media-media.pch@canada.ca

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