CCA Bulletin 15/08
May 21, 2008
The Plans and Priorities of the
Department of Canadian Heritage for 2008-2009
Analysis
The Plans and Priorities document runs to some 120 pages. It reflects the intentions of the Department to move forward on key areas of business and presents a very comprehensive examination of the priorities, program architecture and management structures (see below, Tell me more).
Generally speaking, the Department continues to embrace its key missions in support of the arts, culturally diversity, linguistic duality and augmenting access to the arts by Canadians. But there are serious omissions.
Two things stand out – one under the program activity “Preservation of Canada’s Heritage”, no mention is made of the development of a federal museums policy. This is an issue that has been on the Departmental to-do list for a number of years. Those interested in the development and implementation of a federal museums policy will be disappointed once again.
In the priority “Adapting Cultural Policy to Changing Technology and a Global Marketplace”, there is similar silence regarding the future of some digital initiatives within the Department. Not surprisingly, in retrospect, the future of the Canadian Cultural Observatory program is not mentioned. We now know it is deemed to have fulfilled its objectives and is being shut down.
One notes also that while the Department of Canadian Heritage was a major sponsor of the International Forum on the Creative Economy, organized by the Conference Board of Canada, there is no reference to any ongoing work by the Department in this important area.
The Department has also mentioned the need to adapt policy to a global marketplace, but no reference is made to the promotion of the UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity or any exploration of how the Department and its agencies can contribute more effectively to the internationalization of Canadian artists and arts professionals.
Tell me more
The Plans and Priorities of the Department of Canadian Heritage for 2008-2009, released earlier this year in advance of the 2008-2009 federal budget, provide some interesting insights into the thinking of the Department and the Minister. The Department pursues two broad objectives, expressed in terms of strategic outcomes;
- “Canadians express and share their diverse cultural experiences with each other and the world.”
To achieve this outcome, the Department “helps to ensure that Canadians can express their creativity, showcase their talents, and share their diverse experiences via the arts, heritage institutions and sport activities, both amateur and professional.”
and
- “Canada is an inclusive society built on intercultural understanding and citizen participation.”
The Department seeks to achieve this outcome by providing programming in support of socio-economic inclusion for disadvantaged groups such as off-reserve Aboriginal people and official language minority communities, but also exchange and dialogue on shared citizenship values between Canadians of all origins and backgrounds.”
These two strategic outcomes are supported by seven Program Activities:
- Creation of Canadian content and performance excellence.
- Sustainability of cultural expression and participation.
- Preservation of Canada’s heritage.
- Access to Canada’s culture.
- Promotion of inter-cultural understanding.
- Community development and capacity-building.
- Participation in community and civic life.
In addition to these Program Activities, the Department had identified five priorities:
Priority 1:
Adapting Cultural Policy to Changing Technology and a Global Marketplace
Under this priority the Department identifies several initiatives such as additional funding for Arts Presentation Canada, responding to the evolving Canadian broadcasting environment, adapting the Copyright Act to address changing domestic and international challenges, reviewing the Canadian Periodical Policy and moving forward with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Priority 2:
Promoting Canada Through Community Engagement and Major Events
This priority reflects major national celebrations such as the 400th anniversary of the founding of Québec City, the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Crown Colony of British Columbia, the 250th anniversary of Nova Scotia’s representative assembly etc.
Initiative supporting this priority include the celebrations already mentioned, implementing the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program for local community festivals and commemorations. Canadian participation in Expo 2010 in Shanghai, moving forward with the Global Centre for Pluralism, and developing the next steps for the Community Historical Recognition Program and a National Historical Recognition Program.
Priority 3:
Delivering Support for Official Languages
New funding for official language communities and promoting linguistic duality and activities around the 400th anniversary of Québec City.
The key initiative in this area is implementing new support for Official Languages,
Priority 4:
Investing in Canadian Sport
Funding for the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics and support for community sport participation, athletic development and excellence in winter sports.
Priority 5:
Strengthening Management Practices
Reviewing and adjusting its corporate management infrastructure and governance structure to respond to new requirements regarding results-based management, comptrollership and risk management, audit and evaluation etc.
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