1. Cultural policy system
Canada
Last update: November, 2008
Governments in Canada at the federal, provincial / territorial and municipal levels have long intervened in culture. Cultural policies in Canada are based on a variety of factors including perceptions of the public good, the national and regional interests, economic growth, social benefits, Canada's two official languages and multicultural society, foreign trade and investment opportunities.
Canada's cultural fabric has been shaped by a small and geographically dispersed population, limited economies of scale and high costs of production, the ubiquitous proximity and presence of the United States of America (the world's largest and most influential cultural super-power) and a unique blend of multicultural demographics, official linguistic duality (French and English) and diverse Aboriginal cultures. The ongoing development of a national cultural policy, or policies, for Canada by the federal government has focused on the need to protect and affirm Canadian cultural sovereignty and to promote national unity and a Canadian identity.
The creation of Canada's national cultural institutions in the late 19th century and early 20th century stems from the federal government's recognition of its responsibility for preserving the young country's national cultural assets for the benefit of all citizens and future generations. The early federal role was therefore a builder of cultural infrastructure (e.g. radio in the 1920s and 1930s) as well as owner, custodian and arbiter of national heritage (e.g. Historic Sites and Monuments Board dates from 1919). This long period of limited but direct federal intervention in culture gave rise to many institutions still active today such as the National Gallery of Canada (established in 1880 and incorporated in 1913), the National Archives of Canada (1872) and the National Film Board (1939). The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation / Radio-Canada was established in 1936 pursuant to the Report of the Royal Commission on Radio Broadcasting (1929), better known as the Aird Commission. Aird characterised the fledgling new service of broadcasting as "an instrument of education ... entertainment and ... informing the public on questions of national interest."
As new technologies emerged and Canada's economy diversified following the Second World War, the federal government's role in culture broadened beyond the operations and funding of national public institutions to include the development of programme-based cultural support institutions. This second period of federal intervention was initiated by the release in 1951 of the Report of the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences, co-chaired by Vincent Massey and Georges-Henri Lévesque. In setting out a blueprint for a more active federal scope of intervention in the cultural sector, particularly in regard to the arts and heritage, the Massey-Levesque Commission, like the Aird Commission before it, argued that the capacity for "successful resistance to the absorption of Canada into the general cultural pattern of the United States" is one of the principal objectives of the Canadian broadcasting system. It was soon to become a more generally applied principle throughout the cultural sector during this period which started with the creation of still more national cultural institutions, including the National Library of Canada (1953), the Canada Council (1957), the Canadian Film Development Corporation (1968), the National Museums (1968) and most significantly, the Department of Communications (1969) and the Canadian Radio and Television Commission (1969). The latter established the policy and regulatory basis for the further development of the broadcasting system in Canada in the era of television. This period of institutional growth was highlighted by the country's first centennial celebrations in 1967 that sparked a renewed interest in Canadian culture among its citizens and a great expansion of cultural infrastructure particularly at the community level through the funding of arts and heritage activities and organisations.
The last three decades of the 20th century witnessed rapid growth of culture in Canada attributable, in no small part, to the creation of a wide range of national and provincial / territorial policies and support programmes designed to contribute to the further development of arts, heritage and broadcasting and to begin to provide support to the cultural industries (including film / video, sound recording, periodical and book publishing, new media) and the enactment of legislative amendments governing such cultural legislation as the Broadcasting Act (1991) and the Copyright Act (1985 and 1997). In 1980, the Department of Communications absorbed the arts and culture programmes then housed in the Department of the Secretary of State. This period also marked the growth in Canada's international cultural role exemplified by accession to UN conventions and international showcasing of Canadian talent through such global events as Expo 67 hosted in Montreal in 1967.
The current period marks a further broadening of federal cultural policy in Canada and features the consolidation of heretofore separate functions within the Department of Canadian Heritage (created in 1993, with the enactment of the Department of Canadian Heritage Act, and given royal assent in 1995) including culture, citizenship and identity, Sport Canada and until recently, Parks Canada. Federal cultural policies continue to reflect the two official languages of Canada, the changing multicultural nature of the Canadian population and the rights and needs of the diverse and growing Aboriginal population.
Pursuant to the federal election in 2008, the responsibility for multiculturalism was transferred to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, responsibility for the Status of Women was transferred to the Minister of State (Status of Women) and responsibility for La Francophonie was transferred to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and La Francophonie and the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada.
Governments in Canada at the federal, provincial / territorial and municipal levels have long intervened in culture. Cultural policies in Canada are based on a variety of factors including perceptions of the public good, the national and regional interests, economic growth, social benefits, Canada's two official languages and multicultural society, foreign trade and investment opportunities.
Main features of the current cultural policy model
Although there is shared jurisdiction for culture among the levels of government in Canada - federal, provincial (including municipal), and territorial and aboriginal (where negotiated) - the federal government of Canada alone is responsible for national cultural policies that affect the entire country. While federal jurisdiction in culture is not enshrined specifically in the Constitution, court cases borrowing from the inter-provincial and international aspects of telecommunications have supported the notion of a pan-Canadian role and national cultural responsibilities for the federal government. These federal policies do not detract from the concurrent elaboration and implementation of provincial, territorial and, by extension, municipal cultural policies and programmes within their respective boundaries. Canada's system of cultural governance permits a form of de facto and concurrent involvement in culture and citizenship among its respective levels of government.
There are ten provinces in Canada and three territories as well as many cities and towns which, constitutionally speaking, fall under the aegis of the provincial and territorial governments. While some of the larger provinces, especially Quebec, implement support programmes in most areas of cultural development, provincial and territorial spending in culture is consistently highest for museums. The primordial role of language in society and the recognition of French as the sole official language of the Quebec government are important reasons for the strong and active level of support provided across the cultural sector by successive Quebec governments. The government of Quebec has also pursued active involvement and cooperation with la Francophonie and UNESCO. Quebec's extensive involvement in culture is also evident in itssupport of international touring of performing arts - the only province with a sustained strategy for supporting international touring abroad although some other provinces support it from time to time. Municipal spending is most extensive in libraries but also significant in other areas such as promoting the shooting of feature films and television programmes and the support of performing and visual arts organisations and festivals in large urban centres, such as Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, and other locations throughout Canada.
Canada's federal cultural policy model does not consist of one single overarching statement of cultural policy, but rather includes a broad collection of policy statements, infrastructures, legislation, programmes, services and other tools in specific cultural domains. The national cultural policy model adopted by successive federal governments in Canada has been one of "cultural affirmation" through sustained intervention, arm's length relations within the public sector, inter-governmental co-operation and consultations and mixed public-private sector partnerships. Some decentralisation of federal cultural policies and programmes is effected through regional and local offices. Cultural creativity and expression are supported by national subsidies to artists, community organisations and festivals. The economic viability of the cultural industries is enhanced through federal support programmes, tax benefits and domestic regulation. The preservation of, access to and engagement in heritage are ensured by such institutions as museums, archives and libraries that are largely public sector responsibilities at each level of government.
A great deal of creative thinking went into the establishment of the Department of Communications (DOC) in 1969. Apart from its direct responsibilities in broadcasting policy and spectrum allocation, the DOC was instrumental in tracking the emerging social and economic issues and growing technological capacity of the national telecommunications and broadcasting systems in Canada. In 1969, the Telecommission Advisory Group conducted broad studies of these related matters and was thus the precursor of convergence before its time. In 1970, DOC played a leading role in the proactive federal Task Force on Privacy. During the 1980s, cultural industry, arts and heritage responsibilities were transferred from the Secretary of State to DOC, thereby making cultural policy more comprehensive in scope.
In 1993, Canada's evolving cultural governance structure was further advanced through the establishment of the Department of Canadian Heritage with the enactment of enabling legislation through the Department of Canadian Heritage Act, which received Royal assent in 1995. The Act (1995) sets out the role and responsibilities in Canadian identity and values, cultural development, and heritage. In 2003, responsibility for Parks Canada and historic sites, which had been part of the newly created mandate of the Department of Canadian Heritage since 1993, was transferred from the Minister of Canadian Heritage to the Minister of the Environment.
The decision to set up a single federal department in 1993 with both cultural and citizenship / identity responsibilities marked an innovative departure in cultural policy in Canada by affirming the complex social, economic and political impact of culture and the federal government's commitment to intervene in support of an overall framework of cultural affirmation. To date, Canada's cultural policies and regulations have demonstrated a flexible vision and capacity to build and protect cultural sovereignty faced with the ever present influence of the United States while simultaneously striving to promote openness in global interactions and ensuring that the unique cultural diversity of Canada is reflected in its domestic cultural infrastructure, content and labour force.
Cultural policy objectives
While there is no single statement of Canadian cultural policy objectives, the federal government supports two strategic outcomes whereby: "Canadians express and share their diverse cultural experiences with each other and with the world and Canadians live in an inclusive society built on inter-cultural understanding and citizen participation." The mission or raison d'être of the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Federal Cultural Portfolio of organisations is to contribute to a cohesive and creative Canada in which all Canadians have opportunities to participate in the nation's cultural and civic life. These strategic outcomes are the desired results of the policies, programmes and services provided to Canadians and are intricately linked to the government of Canada outcomes related to strengthening Canada's social foundations. These are, respectively: (1) a vibrant Canadian cultural and heritage and (2) an inclusive society that promotes linguistic duality and diversity. (2006-2007 Departmental Performance Report).
The first strategic outcome - cultural expression - subsumes four activities: creation of Canadian content and performance excellence, sustainability of cultural expression and participation, preservation of Canada's heritage, and access and participation in Canada's cultural life. The second strategic outcome - inclusion - subsumes the promotion of inter-cultural understanding, community development and capacity-building, and participation in community and civic life. It is revealing that the most significant element in common with the two strategic outcomes and activities is that of participation, whether civic or cultural.
Principles, values and traditions flowing from these strategic outcomes and objectives include freedom of choice, a domestic market open to the world, diversity of content and content providers, the reservation of cultural shelf-space for Canadian content, access to new technologies by increasingly diverse artists, producers, distributors and consumers, public / private sector partnerships and more universal and extensive civic and cultural engagement including community building, the promotion of cross-cultural understanding and dialogue, exchanges and volunteerism. In recent years, coupled with the continuing saga of technological innovation, the principle of diversity has transformed the elaboration and implementation of cultural policies. Today, the principle of dialogue is increasingly important in regard to cultural governance and multiculturalism in both domestic and global settings. These strategic outcomes and principles have generally attracted broad public support in Canada as part of a shared commitment amongst governments and citizens to maintain an active presence in charting the country's present and future cultural affairs.
Last update: November, 2008
Organisational Structure of the Department of Canadian Heritage 2008-09*
* Recent changes in the organisational structure (organigram) are not included
Last update: November, 2008
As chapter 2.1.1 indicates, the organisational structure of the Department of Canadian Heritage includes the Deputy Minister and the Associate Deputy Minister and five Assistant Deputy Ministers responsible for five Sectors, respectively (Cultural Affairs; Citizenship and Heritage; International and Intergovernmental Affairs and Sport; Public and Regional Affairs; and Planning and Corporate Affairs. The Department of Canadian Heritage, with its headquarters located for the most part in Gatineau Quebec, delivers over sixty programmes, ten of which are delivered by the Department's five Regional Offices. In addition to delivering programmes, the Department plays an important role in developing and implementing policies and programme design, building partnerships, conducting outreach and communications to traditional and new clients and stakeholders and providing analysis and advice to the Minister.
The governance structure of the Department comprises three management levels:
- Decision-making committees (Executive Committee chaired by the Deputy Minister and Departmental Audit Committee, including, inter alia, members outside the department);
- Operational Committees chaired by the Deputy Minister or Associated Deputy Minister (Communications and Coordination, Strategic Policy, Planning and Evaluation - newly integrated and to be operational in early 2008-09, Operations and Management); and
- Advisory Committees (Policy reporting to the Strategic Policy, Planning and Evaluation Committee, a newly integrated Planning Committee including risk management, Human Resources, Finance, Information Management and Information Technology, Programme Management and Service Delivery, and Legal Services Planning and Priorities).
The above governance structure is designed to enhance consistency within such a disparate organisation as well as the transparency of the decision-making process and to ensure progress towards the achievement of the Department's strategic outcomes (see chapter 1.1).
Under Canada's Parliamentary system, members of the Cabinet are also Members of Parliament. Parliament is bicameral in Canada, comprising the elected House of Commons and the appointed Senate which operates as a forum for "sober second thought" of proposed legislation. It enacts enabling legislation and approves federal spending. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage is responsible for conducting national reviews of major cultural issues such as broadcasting, feature films and book publishing, holding hearings on culture bills and amending them before a Third (and final) Reading in the House of Commons and Senate.
"Arm's length relations" refer to the separation from direct ministerial control of every-day operations of federal cultural agencies and Crown corporations while reserving the Minister's responsibility for culture in Cabinet and in Parliament. This provision is often contained in mandate-defining legislation and operating practices although, in certain cases, additional provisions are made for Cabinet to send back for further review or to rescind regulatory decisions other than broadcasting licensing decisions.
Canadian Heritage Portfolio
The Canadian Heritage Portfolio reports to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages and, in addition to the Department of Canadian Heritage (including the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) and the Canadian Heritage Information Network) and consists of 19 other federal organisations that operate in the audio-visual, heritage, arts, human rights and public service human resources areas. The Minister is responsible for ensuring that the Canadian Heritage Portfolio agencies and Crown corporations support the priorities of the government of Canada.
The Portfolio agencies produce their own performance reports, except for the Crown corporations, which prepare annual reports, summaries of which are tabled in Parliament in accordance with the reporting obligations set out in the applicable enabling legislation. The Canadian Heritage Portfolio institutions are funded by Parliament and make use of the instruments and tools required for the implementation of federal cultural policy. Moreover, these federal institutions are the repository of much of the government's accumulated expertise and experience throughout its history of active intervention in the cultural sector. The following organisations comprise the Canadian Heritage Portfolio:
Audio-visual
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC / Radio-Canada), Canada's national public broadcaster creates and delivers programming and information through a comprehensive range of media.
The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission regulates and supervises all aspects of the Canadian broadcasting system with a view to implementing the broadcasting policy set out in the Broadcasting Act.
The National Film Board produces and distributes audiovisual works that provide a uniquely Canadian perspective, including diverse cultural and regional perspectives, recognised across Canada and around the world.
Telefilm Canada is dedicated to the development and promotion of Canada's audiovisual industry. Telefilm finances original, diverse and high quality films, television programmes and new media products, which reflect Canada's linguistic duality, cultural diversity, and regional character.
Heritage
Library and Archives Canada preserves the documentary heritage of Canada for the benefit of present and future generations. It is a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada. It facilitates cooperation in the Canadian knowledge community, and serves as the continuing memory of the government of Canada and its institutions.
The Canada Science and Technology Museum Corporation fosters scientific and technological literacy throughout Canada with its collection of scientific and technological objects. The Corporation oversees the operation of the Canada Science and Technology Museum, the Canada Aviation Museum and the Canada Agriculture Museum.
The Canadian Museum of Nature increases interest in, knowledge of, and appreciation and respect for the natural world with its collection of natural history objects.
The Canadian Museum of Civilisation Corporation increases knowledge and critical understanding of, and appreciation and respect for, human cultural achievements and human behaviour with its collection of objects of historical or cultural interest. The Canadian War Museum is an affiliated museum.
The National Gallery of Canada furthers knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of art for Canadians with its collection of art. The Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography is an affiliated museum.
The National Battlefields Commission preserves and develops the historic and urban parks of the National Battlefields Park in Quebec City and in the surrounding area, including the Plains of Abraham and Des Braves Park.
The Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board determines whether cultural property is of "outstanding significance and national importance" pursuant to the Cultural Property Export and Import Act for the purposes of export control and fiscal measures.
Arts
The Canada Council for the Arts fosters the development of the arts in Canada by providing artists and professional arts organisations in Canada with a broad range of grants through peer evaluation committees.
The National Arts Centre has become Canada's pre-eminent performing arts centre. It creates, showcases and celebrates excellence in the performing arts, and strives to symbolise artistic quality, innovation and creativity for all Canadians.
Human Resources
The Public Service Commission is responsible for safeguarding the values of a professional public service: competence, non-partisanship and representativeness. It does this in the public interest as part of Canada's governance system.
The Public Service Labour Relations Board is an independent, quasi-judicial statutory tribunal responsible for administering the collective bargaining and grievance adjudication system in the federal Public Service and Parliament as well as providing mediation and conciliation services to help parties resolve differences without resorting to a formal hearing.
The Public Service Staffing Tribunal is an independent and quasi-judicial body which conducts hearings and provides mediation services in order to resolve complaints related to internal appointments and lay-offs in the federal public service.
The Public Servants Disclosure Protection Tribunal is responsible for determining, for each application referred by the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, whether a complainant of wrongdoing has been subjected to a reprisal and whether the person or persons identified in the application as having taken the alleged reprisal actually took it; it may make an orders granting a remedy to the complainants.
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Information is currently not available.
Last update: November, 2008
While there are not formal inter-ministerial committees or intergovernmental networks responsible for promoting intercultural coordination in Canada, the Department of Canadian Heritage engages in inter-ministerial communications with other federal departments such as Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT), the Department of Justice Canada, Human Resources and Social Development Canada, Treasury Board of Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada, Industry Canada, Transport Canada, the Department of National Defence, Health Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Department of Finance Canada on matters affecting the department. For example:
- Industry Canada established the Information Highway Advisory Council in the late 1990s but content-related issues were handled by the Department of Canadian Heritage;
- Policies and programmes affecting concentration of ownership and competition in the cultural sector involves both the Department of Canadian Heritage and Industry Canada as well as the Canadian Radio-Television Commission in relation to broadcasting;
- copyright legislation is split between Industry Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage;
- the promotion of international cultural activities including culture and trade is shared by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) and the Department of Canadian Heritage;
- Sections 41 and 42 of the Official Languages Act (OLA):Section 41 commits the federal government to enhancing the vitality of official-language minority communities (OLMC), as well as fostering the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society. Section 42 mandates the department of Canadian Heritage, through interdepartmental coordination, to promote and encourage a coordinated approach to this commitment (see chapter 2.5.4);
- l'entente pour le développement des arts et de la culture de la francophonie canadienne which promotes arts and culture within the Canadian minority Francophone population is a result of a partnership with the Fédération culturelle francophone canadienne, Department of Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, National Film Board and National Arts Centre;
- the Department of Canadian Heritage works closely with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada on Aboriginal cultural matters; and
- the department shares with Health Canada certain provisions relative to sport under the Physical Activity and Sport Act (2003).
Federal cultural institutions take part in task forces and working groups that address government-wide horizontal issues. Regional Executive Directors represent the Department of Canadian Heritage on 13 Regional Federal Councils across the country. The Councils are composed of senior officials of federal departments and agencies in each province and territory. As well, regional managers and staff are involved in the work of Council Sub-Committees on a wide range of management and policy issues. Councils serve as a forum for information exchange, and are a valuable vehicle for regional management of horizontal policy issues, collaborative initiatives across departments, integrated and improved service delivery, two-way communication with the central agencies on regional perspectives, and cooperation with other jurisdictions.
The Department of Canadian Heritage also participates alongside ministries of culture from the provinces and the territories in committees of Ministers and senior public servants. For example, Canadian Heritage participated from 2002 to 2005 along with the federal Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) in the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Partnership (ACCEP) to stimulate economic development in Atlantic Canada (including four provinces) through culture and to celebrate the history and cultural diversity of that region. Currently, Canadian Heritage is working with all provincial and territorial colleagues on several leading-edge issues represented by the following federal-provincial working groups: the enhancement of culture / heritage tourism (this initiative was renewed for a two-year period in October 2006); the impact of new innovative technologies on the creative cultural process, cultural consumption and cultural policy; the instrumental and intrinsic benefits of the arts, culture and heritage; cultural statistics; and historic places.To date, however, there has been relatively little scholarly or governmental research examining how the three levels of government actually interact on cultural matters in specific communities (see chapter 1.3.3).
Last update: November, 2008
The last major change in federal public sector responsibilities occurred in 1993 when the Department of Canadian Heritage was established, with multiculturalism, identity, citizenship, parks and cultural policy responsibilities. The Department of Canadian Heritage Act came into force with Royal Assent in 1995. The only federal cultural re-allocation since then has been the removal of Parks Canada from Canadian Heritage, making Parks Canada independent and subsequently, part of the Environment Portfolio (see chapter 1.2.2).
Information is currently not available.
Last update: November, 2008
Many federal cultural institutions are moving away from their sole focus on narrowly defined client groups to a form of broader social inclusion as Canadians, from a dependency on government to higher self-sufficiency, from activity-based relationships to results-based interaction and from direct project support to a sustainable supportive environment. Comparable change is evident in moving from sector policies to a policy framework or vision. The Department of Canadian Heritage has developed and continues to review a multi-year strategic framework and vision (see also chapter 2.1) as part of its inputs to the annual Reports on Plans and Priorities and Departmental Performance. Autonomous cultural policy and programme planning is becoming relatively rare in contrast to the traditional role of single-handed government initiatives. The Canada Council for the Arts provides numerous examples of close partnerships with third sector (not-for-profit) associations e.g. Moving Forward - Strategic Plan 2008-2011 (2007) and has broadened the scope of its granting mandate to include new disciplines such as new media arts and new relationships such as the Aboriginal Arts Programme (see chapter 7.2.2). Periodic reviews of arts and heritage policies and the development of strategic policy frameworks have involved extensive consultations with the respective industry and public interest associations affected thereby.
Most programmes today habitually associate with other organisations such as other federal, provincial and municipal departments and agencies, non-governmental and voluntary organisations, commercial and not-for-profit entities and both individuals and groups of citizens. These partnerships are in place throughout the cultural sector. They range from joint funding undertakings such as the Canadian Television Fund to administrative arrangements where private sector associations implement portions of the Book Publishing Industry Development Programme and the Canada Music Fund(see chapter 3.5.1). The mandate of Telefilm Canada has also expanded to include "new media" and the Canada New Media Fund as part of its audio-visual responsibilities.
There has been little in the way of privatisation of public-supported culture in Canada at the federal level. The last serious debate over the possible privatisation of national cultural institutions or their possible devolution to the provinces occurred in 1991 as part of failed constitutional reform in the Charlottetown talks. The role of public sector foundations has been to provide financial support for cultural activities usually at a provincial or local level.
Partnerships benefit from a long-term or strategic relationship based on trust. However, the principal reasons why partnerships have become "de rigueur"in Canada are at least three-fold:
- government budgets can never meet the total demand for spending and services on their own. Financial and other collaboration in the development and delivery of cultural services is a way of sharing costs;
- the business and scope of culture is increasingly large and complex. All levels of society and many parts of the economy are affected by the cultural sector and hence should participate in its growth and evolution; and
- the long-range goal of "democratising" the basis of cultural policy is nearer at hand with governments' recognition that policies and programmes can only be successful if they have the imprint of both commercial and not-for-profit input and participation
- the constitutional make-up of Canada results in the existence of several grey areas in which cultural matters often intersect with others such as education, making it difficult for any one level of government to proceed in isolation from the others.
Provided that associated risks can be managed, collaboration offers governments a way to reach new audiences in non-traditional ways, to build the capacity of others and to leverage expertise and resources. Partnering can include arrangements that are consultative or advisory, contributory or support sharing, operational or work sharing, and collaborative or decision-making. Sponsorship and other forms of partnering are not to be confused with donations or advertising.
Among the multitude of inter-governmental partnerships in which the Department of Canadian Heritage was engaged in 2006 are the following initiatives:
Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Culture / Heritage and Tourism Initiative: aimed at better understanding and improving the link between culture / heritage and tourism. Launched in 2003 following a 1997 directive from the FPT Ministers responsible for culture and heritage, this initiative focuses, inter alia, on common issues and opportunities for cooperative tourism activities within the culture and heritage sector and between the culture and heritage sectors and other tourism stakeholders. The project was renewed in 2006-2007 for two years (see chapter 1.2.6 for other FPT partnerships).
FPT working groups: Aboriginal Cultures and Tourism has addressed repatriation of sacred aboriginal artefacts, including human remains, the preservation and promotion of Aboriginal languages, and has produced three reports. The FPT working group on the 2010 Cultural Olympiad, to take place in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia will continue its work over the next few years. The Cultural Olympiad is part of a major inter-governmental partnership directed towards the preparation for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The 2010 Games Federal Secretariat, in collaboration with federal departments and agencies, the government of British Columbia, and other provinces and territories, as well as the municipal governments of Vancouver and Whistler, is working on the promotion of opportunities across Canada to leverage social and economic benefits associated with hosting the 2010 Winter Games, specifically in the areas of culture and diversity, aboriginal participation, official languages, sport and recreation, economic development, environment and sustainability, volunteerism, and tourism (see chapter 2.1).
The FPT Initiative on New Technologies has conducted research on the impact of new technologies on the cultural industries and on cultural policy development. In 2007-2008, the New Technologies Initiative is focusing on identifying best practices for government support of new technologies and priority areas for support. In 2007, a new working group on the instrumental and intrinsic benefits of the arts, culture and heritage, was established. Its objective is to develop performance measures that assist government decision makers to assess funding decisions by a) demonstrating the link between arts, culture and heritage activities and the achievement of public policy objectives; and b) demonstrating accountability by arts and culture organisations for the use of public monies. Canadian Heritage agreed to lead the first phase of the project in 2007-2008, which will investigate existing documentation on intrinsic and instrumental benefits of the arts, culture and heritage, and produce a feasibility study report that will outline possible methodologies that could be used to develop common measures. Priority will be given to measures that are identifiable, common (across Canada) and quantifiable. A sub-working group on cultural statistics was also established. The objective is to act as facilitator for the above-mentioned working group on the instrumental and intrinsic benefits of the arts, and to improve communication between Statistics Canada and the provinces and territories, and to meet their cultural statistics needs.
Tri-Level Committees: These committees bring together funding partners (high officials) from the three levels of government (federal, PT and municipal) as well as staff from federal and provincial arts councils. Their objective is to foster better collaboration and efficiency between levels of governments. Structure and functioning varies from one committee to another, to adapt to specific needs and municipalities involved. Meetings occur on a regular basis to share information and to consult on funding priorities. These committees currently exist in British Columbia, Alberta (Edmonton and Calgary), Manitoba, Ontario (Toronto) and New Brunswick.
400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City: the project to commemorate and celebrate the 400th anniversary in 2008 of the founding of Quebec City in 1608 is coordinated by the Department of Canadian Heritage Celebration, Commemoration and Learning Programme which works with provincial governments, municipalities and other partners including the Société du 400ième anniversaire de Québec, a non-profit organisation (see chapter 2.1).
Third sector organisations: The Department of Canadian Heritage has also engaged in partnerships and sponsorships with "third sector" organisations in such areas as national parks and historic sites, diversity training, producing and distributing educational materials on Canada, promoting linkages to sports, artistic and ethno-cultural associations, youth exchange groups and Aboriginal representative, women's organisations, and promoting heritage tourism and Canadian participation in international expositions and fairs. The Community Partnerships Programme provides support to volunteers. The Partnerships Fund is designed to help make Canadian cultural collections available online in both official languages. The Programme associated with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21) benefits from corporate collaboration in both monetary and in-kind support. Funding mechanisms habitually include sustaining grants, contributions (including accountability for the recipient), loans and loan guarantees, cost-sharing agreements, co-operative agreements (non-financial), corporate sponsorship agreements, joint project agreements and contracts. There are also a variety of private sector partnerships at the urban level. In the arts, the Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Programme (arts stabilisation) also provides an interesting example of private sector-public sector partnerships designed to encourage realistic financial planning and to avoid future deficits.
Last update: November, 2008
The Department of Canadian Heritage developed the ISF to increase the promotion of Canadian culture abroad, strengthen international dialogue on best practices in the area of social inclusion and civic participation, ensure better visibility of Canadian cultural content and expertise through new technologies, strengthen relations with the USA, increase focus on G8 and emerging global powers such as China, India and Brazil, and ensure greater coherence with overall government international priorities. The ISF has resulted in more clearly defined roles for the Canada Council for the Arts, the Trade Routes Programme in the Department of Canadian Heritage, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Promart Programme in the area of international cultural promotion.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) also has a history of promoting the Canadian cultural sector and its successes around the world as part of its efforts to advance Canadian foreign policy objectives. In 2007, DFAIT's Promart Programme was restructured and currently advances foreign policy and trade objectives in the following fields: performing arts (touring, special projects, Canadian festivals), music and sound recording (same as preceding), literature and publishing (travel for authors), media arts, film television and video (travel grants for International Market Development, Canadian festivals, grants for International Business Development) and visual arts (touring of contemporary Canadian art exhibitions, preparatory tours, incoming familiarisation visits, international career development travel, major international art events). Canada's cultural diplomacy is intended to help improve professional opportunities for Canadian artists and to facilitate, along with other members of the cultural community, a place for Canada in the mainstream of international artistic excellence.
In addition to DFAIT and Canadian Heritage, the Canada Council for the Arts is also active in promotion of Canadian culture abroad. While it does not provide funding for the same projects as DFAIT in the performing arts and music and sound recording, the Canada Council does fund projects in the following fields: literature and publishing (international translations, launch tours for translated books in partnership with Posts, author travel), media arts, film, television and video (individual travel grants, partnerships with DFAIT and Trade Routes, independent media director screenings at priority venues) and visual arts (individual travel grants).
Last update: November, 2008
Among Canada's multiple relations with European and other international actors, are the following:
- Council of Europe: The Department of Canadian Heritage, on the basis of Canada's Observer status at the Council of Europe (COE), follows the activities of the COE Steering Committee for Culture (CDCULT), as well as the Council's activities related to cultural co-operation, social cohesion, intercultural dialogue, and media diversity. Participation in the deliberations of the Council of Europe enables Canada to exchange with and learn from a range of important European partners. Canadian Heritage and its portfolio will continue to engage with the Council as a means of deepening cooperation on a variety of issues with partners from Western, Central and Eastern Europe. Canada also takes part in the COE / ERICarts Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe.
- European Union: Canada and the European Union (EU) co-operated on the drafting of the text for the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions prior to its adoption in October 2005. Canada continues its co-operation with the EU as the Convention begins the implementation phase in 2007. At the annual Canada-EU Summit held in Ottawa in October 2008, the Prime Minister of Canada stated, "Canada and the EU will prepare formal mandates with a view to launching negotiations on an economic partnership as soon as possible in 2009." Canada and the EU published the results of a joint study by the European Commission and the government of Canada into the costs and benefits of a closer economic partnership between the EU and Canada, entitled "Assessing the Costs and Benefits to a Closer EU-Canada Economic Partnership". The study examines how various forms of trade liberalisation would impact on both economies, although it makes no policy recommendations.
- Arctic Council: In 2006, Canada became more involved in the cultural policy activities of the Arctic Council, including participating in a conference on the Cultural Dimension of Cooperation among Arctic Council Members States, held in January 2006 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. At this meeting, Canada outlined its activities in the area of the revitalisation of indigenous languages. As a result of this meeting, Canadian Heritage, in conjunction with other government of Canada Departments, proposed the organising of an Arctic Languages Symposium to the Member States and the Permanent Indigenous Participants of the Arctic Council. This Symposium is planned to be held in 2008 and will bring together language revitalisation experts and practitioners to share best practices and foster co-operation between governments and indigenous groups.
- Organisation of American States (OAS): The third Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Culture or Highest Appropriate Authorities was held in Montreal in November 2006. Priorities discussed included: the preservation and presentation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage including good practices in digital preservation of cultural heritage; culture and the enhancement of the dignity and identity the populations in the Western Hemisphere including the development of partnerships between the educational and cultural sectors; culture and the creation of decent jobs and the overcoming of poverty including the development of standardised cultural indicators and satellite accounts as well as the development and promotion of cultural industries; common measurements to evaluate achievements and outcomes of cultural policies and social projects to overcome exclusion in the Americas; and culture and the role of indigenous peoples. Ministers reiterated the importance of policies and programmes that foster cultural development and the promotion of cultural diversity, as well as cultural identities, within the knowledge-based society. From 2005 to 2007, Canada chaired the Inter-American Committee on Culture (CIC) which is responsible for dialogue on cultural policy issues affecting the Americas. Canada was re-elected chair of the CIC for a further two year term in 2007. As a result of Canada's leadership, a new Action Plan will guide the ensuing work of the Committee, and will focus on two main elements: (1) building institutional capacity in cultural industries; and, (2) promoting social inclusion, particularly as it relates to youth. Member States agreed with the links made between these two strategic elements and the building of democracies, promoting governance and the reduction of poverty. As CIC chair, Canada works closely with co-chairs Brazil, Colombia, Jamaica and the United States.
- La Francophonie: Canada plays an active part in the international Francophonie and the « Organisation internationale de la Francophonie » (OIF). The missions of the OIF include promoting the French language and cultural and linguistic diversity; promoting peace, democracy and human rights; supporting education, training, higher education and research; and developing cooperation to ensure sustainable development and solidarity. Canada hosted the XIIth Summit of La Francophonie in Quebec City in October 2008. Within the scope of this work, Canada also takes part in the direct operating agencies recognised in the OIF Charter, including the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF), the Association of Francophone Universities (AUF), the Senghor University of Alexandria and the TV5 network. In addition, Canada participates in the International Council of French-Speaking Radio and Television (CIRTEF) launched under the leadership of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Radio-Canada and Télé-Québec, which is a professional association of public broadcasters in Quebec. The aim of this organisation is to establish open dialogue between broadcasting agencies and to promote the role of radio and television as an engine for development. The Department of Canadian Heritage plays a leading role in the institutions of La Francophonie including the bi-annual Summits of Heads of State and Governments of Countries Using French as a Common Language (operational since 1986), annual ministerial conferences, and different committees of the OIF in areas such as cultural and linguistic diversity, sport and youth, arts and audiovisual. The Department also manages the government of Canada's involvement in TV5 and administers the funding awarded to TV5Monde and TV5 Québec-Canada. This multinational network airs programming from Canada, Europe and Africa, promotes cultural diversity and offers a window on La Francophonie. Through its involvement in TV5, Canada is supporting emerging productions from countries of the southern hemisphere.
- Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE): Canadian Heritage is active in the human dimension of the OSCE, or the set of norms and activities related to human rights and democracy. The OSCE, particularly through its Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), is a venue for engaging key partners in Europe on several files such as combating racism and promoting diversity, which are key components of Canada's commitment to promoting human security. The Department of Canadian Heritage provides input to and plays a consultative role regarding issues related to combating intolerance and promoting mutual respect, intercultural dialogue and understanding at the OSCE (see chapter 2.5.1).
Last update: November, 2008
The Department of Canadian Heritage welcomes numerous delegations from various countries every year to share and exchange on good practices and experience on a wide variety of issues and topics, including multiculturalism, aboriginal policies and programs, broadcasting policies, cultural industries policies and programs, and support for cultural activities such as theatre and the visual arts. In 2007, Canadian Heritage officials met with government representatives from countries such as China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, United Kingdom and Brazil. Other examples include:
- South Africa: Canada and South Africa have engaged in various areas of cultural cooperation over recent years, including but not limited to the digitalisation of cultural heritage, policy exchange on copyright, audiovisual cooperation and the development of an art bank. In May 2007, in the context of the Fourth Annual Canada-South Africa Bilateral Consultations, PCH hosted a delegation of representatives from the Department of Arts and Culture of South Africa to further discussions on the next areas of cultural cooperation. Agreement was reached on the following initiatives: heritage training in areas of preservation and conservation, performance management and governance including best practices for cultural institutions, and the promotion of audio-visual co-productions. Both departments have been in contact to define and put in place the activities that will fall under these three areas of cooperation.
- Jamaica:In November 2007, Canadian Heritage welcomed a delegation from Jamaica to participate in the Cultural Information Systems and Cultural Portals Knowledge Exchange Session to support their efforts in creating a Cultural Information System for Jamaica. Although Jamaica is a leader in its region with regard to digitisation of cultural information, the Jamaican representatives approached Canada to discuss the department's experience and best practices in the creation of Culture.ca and Culturescope.ca. Jamaica plans to share the knowledge obtained in Canada during the five-day programme to assist fellow counterparts in the Caribbean in the development of their own systems.