Minister of Canadian Heritage - Responsibilities

Responsibilities

Prior to 2003, their responsibilities included National Parks and historic sites.

Currently, the Minister of Canadian Heritage is responsible for the Department of Canadian Heritage as well as:

• Canada Council for the Arts
• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
• Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board
• Canadian Museum of Civilization
• Canadian Museum of Nature
• Canadian Race Relations Foundation
• Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission
• Library and Archives Canada
• National Arts Centre
• National Battlefields Commission
• National Film Board of Canada
• National Gallery of Canada
• National Museum of Science and Technology
• Office of Indian Residential Schools Resolution
• Official Languages Commissioner of Canada
• Public Service Commission of Canada
• Public Service Staff Relations Board
• Status of Women Canada
• Telefilm Canada

The Minister's general powers, duties, and functions are set out by section 4 of the Department of Canadian Heritage Act, which provides as follows:

4. (1) The powers, duties and functions of the Minister extend to and include all matters over which Parliament has jurisdiction, not by law assigned to any other department, board or agency of the Government of Canada, relating to Canadian identity and values, cultural development and heritage.

(2) The Minister’s jurisdiction referred to in subsection (1) encompasses, but is not limited to, jurisdiction over

(a) the promotion of a greater understanding of human rights, fundamental freedoms and related values;

(b) multiculturalism;

(c) the arts, including cultural aspects of the status of the artist;

(d) cultural heritage and industries, including performing arts, visual and audio-visual arts, publishing, sound recording, film, video and literature;

(e) national battlefields;

(f) the encouragement, promotion and development of sport;

(g) the advancement of the equality of status and use of English and French and the enhancement and development of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada;

(h) state ceremonial and Canadian symbols;

(i) broadcasting, except in respect of spectrum management and the technical aspects of broadcasting;

(j) the formulation of cultural policy, including the formulation of cultural policy as it relates to foreign investment and copyright;

(k) the conservation, exportation and importation of cultural property; and

(l) national museums, archives and libraries.

In addition, sections 42 to 44 of the Official Languages Act confer certain other responsibilities on the Minister of Canadian Heritage (see Minister responsible for Official Languages (Canada)).