Question Period Note: 2019-20 Departmental Results Report for Canadian Heritage

Canadian Heritage’s 2019-20 Departmental Results Report presents the Department’s accomplishments, in relation to its performance expectations and commitments outlined in its 2019-20 Departmental Plan. The financial information included in this Report is in line with the 2019-20 Public Accounts which were tabled in the House of Commons on December 7, 2020.

• In 2019-20, total planned spending presented in the Departmental Plan for Canadian Heritage was $1.4 billion and spending amounted to $1.55 billion.
• The spending was higher than planned mainly due to substantial new funding received as part of the Supplementary Estimates process and the Budget Implementation Vote for Budget 2019 approved initiatives.
• In 2019-20, total authorities for Canadian Heritage were $1.6 billion and spending amounted to $1.55 billion leaving $49.8 million or 3% of its authorities unused.

• The variance between the planned and actual spending observed in 2019-20 is a result of substantial new funding received by the department. This additional funding supports the Enhancement of Official Languages Program and Minority-Language Education in Canada through initiatives that improve access to second languages and promote bilingualism in Canada of which an unspent portion was reprofiled to 2020-21. Further, it enables new projects in the Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program which are helping to preserve, promote and revitalize Indigenous languages. This new funding also supports artists and cultural events in order to foster a more cohesive Canadian identity. Funding was also received to allow the Sport Program to successfully launch new initiatives for social development in Indigenous communities, gender equality and ensuring a safe and healthy sport system. Moreover, the Strengthening Multiculturalism and New Anti-Racism Strategy as well as the Young Canada Works temporary funding also contributed to this increased funding.
• $49.8 million of PCH authorities remained unused in 2019-20 mostly due to funds being reprofiled or transferred from 2019-20 to 2020-21 for various initiatives as a result of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, and delays resulting from external factors such as the teachers’ strikes in Ontario. The most significant in terms of value pertains to the Enhancing Support for Minority-Language Education in Canada initiative delivered under the Official Languages Programs.
• Some of the highlights of the Report include:
o Canadian Heritage continued to work with Indigenous partners through a joint implementation steering committee to fully implement the Indigenous Languages Act and Budget 2019 investments of $333.7 million over five years, and $115.7 million per year thereafter.
o The Department led a delegation of approximately 70 representatives from 41 partners in industry, and federal, provincial and territorial governments to the Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2019.
o The Department provided funding to establish mechanisms to increase the participation of girls and women in sport as athletes and leaders including supporting a Gender Equity in Sport Strategy and the creation of a Gender Equity Secretariat at Sport Canada.
o In June 2019 the Department began to implement key components of the Anti-Racism Strategy, including the establishment of the federal Anti-Racism Secretariat, new mechanisms to deliver community-based projects and programming, and approaches to build awareness through improved data and evidence building.
o The Youth Take Charge Program supported the citizen-focused activities component of the Digital Citizen Initiative through four funded projects, which aimed to strengthen Canadians’ digital media literacy and critical thinking skills, in order to better understand online deceptive practices, recognize disinformation, and be less susceptible to online manipulation.
o After its November 2019 transfer to Canadian Heritage, the Youth Secretariat continued to implement Canada’s Youth Policy and pursued interdepartmental meetings on the youth portfolio to support its implementation across the federal government.
o The Department finalized the modernization of the Official Languages Act, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Act, and held a Symposium in Ottawa in the spring of 2019.

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