QUÉBEC, May 20, 2004 -- The Honourable Hélène Chalifour Scherrer, Minister of Canadian Heritage, in the presence of Québec's Minister of Culture and Communications, Line Beauchamp, today announced funding in the amount of $350,000 for UNESCO. This contribution will help finance intergovernmental meetings to enable the development of the Convention on the Protection of the Diversity of Cultural Contents and Artistic Expression. The Minister made this announcement on the eve of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development."The Government of Canada continues to play a leadership role in the development of a Convention on Cultural Diversity," said Minister Chalifour Scherrer. "We recognize how important it is to actively support UNESCO in its efforts. I believe that artists, creators and cultural entrepreneurs must have the means to express themselves, both here at home and on the world stage. We hope that this Convention will strengthen our ability to develop and highlight our respective cultures."During a recent speech in Montreal, the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Paul Martin, emphasized the fact that cultural diversity is a priority for his government: "Canada has relentlessly promoted a convention on cultural diversity under the auspices of UNESCO. First, to protect our own cultural heritage, but also for what it means outside our borders."In addition, Minister Chalifour Scherrer announced the creation of the position of Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Canada who will act as Lead Negotiator and whose mandate will be to foster respect for cultural diversity, both here and abroad.Finally, the Minister took advantage of this opportunity to underscore the importance of the partnership that has been established with Québec and the other provinces and territories, as well as with civil society and the private sector, to make cultural diversity a central issue in international affairs."The involvement of the provinces and territories and most especially Québec gives added weight to our contribution. Our successful collaboration clearly demonstrates that cultural diversity is at the heart of Canadian priorities," Minister Chalifour Scherrer added. For her part, the Quebec minister noted that the governments of Quebec and Canada were among the first to have formally taken up with UNESCO the cause of an international instrument on the protection of cultural content and artistic expression. She underlined that the government of Quebec believes this effort is essential to the province's culture and identity. "Our two governments have agreed to be central players in the adoption of an international convention. I warmly welcome the federal initiative to back the participation of governmental experts in UNESCO's work. It is in line with Quebec initiatives, which over the past several years has contributed to the thinking behind the creation of the instrument," Minister Beauchamp said.Information:Marc RoyDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Minister of Canadian Heritage(819) 997-7788Isabelle MelançonPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Culture and Communications(418) 380-2310
