Question Period Note: Climate change programming at National Museums

The mandate letter to the Minister of Canadian Heritage included a directive to work with the National Museums to increase Canadian’s awareness of climate change.

• Increased public awareness of climate change is key to achieving a cleaner environment and sustainable economy.
• We will be working with our National Museums on how they can contribute to increasing public awareness with respect to climate change.
• Our National Museum of Nature and National Museum of Science and Technology are already doing important work in this area.

• In the December 13, 2019 mandate letter to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Prime Minister directed that Canadian Heritage work with the national museums to increase Canadian’s awareness of climate change. This is a new initiative for the department.
• Preliminary discussions are underway with Museums and Environment Canada. The Department is working towards establishing a Climate Change Awareness Action Plan by Spring 2021.
• National Museums are governed by the Museums Act. As such, they are autonomous Crown corporations that operate at arm’s length from the government in their day-to-day operations, activities and programming.
• The Canadian Museum of Nature’s updated Water Gallery provides educational content on climate change and how it impacts the health of marine and fresh waters. The stories are told through interactive games, colourful and thought-provoking graphics, real specimens and informative videos.
• The National Museum of Science and Technology is educating the public on climate change issues through a global perspective with Climate Change is Here, a visual display based on the striking imagery of the award-winning National Geographic Magazine. This photographic display also takes a special look at Canadian technologies developed to help fight climate change. In addition, the Museum has a captivating canopy video on Climate Change which covers a range of issues from CO2 emissions to technological solutions.

None