Question Period Note: PCH Departmental Plan 2021-22

• Canadian Heritage’s Departmental Plan presents detailed information on priorities, strategic outcomes, programs and expected results, and relies on planned spending of $1.5 billion for fiscal year 2021-2022.

• Through its various programs, the Department supports a wide range of activities from arts and culture, through commemorations, celebrations and official languages, to high performance sports and promotion of diversity, inclusion and multiculturalism.

• The Department Plan also details the implementation of the COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport.

• The Department’s 2021-22 Departmental Plan is based on the Departmental Results Framework which consists of five Departmental Core Responsibilities and Internal Services. The Plan was tabled in Parliament on February 25, 2021.
• Some of the key priorities highlighted in the Departmental Plan include:
o Canadian Heritage, in collaboration with the Canada Council for the Arts, will expand their funding programs and deliver $181.5 million of additional funding to support the planning and presentation of the arts and COVID-19-safe events.
o The Department will facilitate the passage of Bill C-10, which makes amendments to the Broadcasting Act by the end of 2021. The passage of this bill will take appropriate measures to ensure that all content providers, including internet giants, offer meaningful levels of Canadian content in their catalogues, contribute to the creation and promotion of Canadian content in both official languages.
o Diversity and inclusion are essential to building a Canada in which every person is able to participate fully in society and reach their full potential. To this end, Canadian Heritage intends to develop the first-ever federal LGBTQ2 action plan led by the LGBTQ2 Secretariat. The Anti-Racism Secretariat will continue to advance Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy and promote a government-wide approach to fight against all forms of racism and discrimination. Canada’s Youth Secretariat will continue to implement Canada’s Youth Policy and expects to release the first report on the state of youth in Canada.
o Canadian Heritage will support the sports community as it awaits the return to safe sport in the aftermath of the health crisis. This will include supporting Team Canada’s preparations for the Tokyo Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021 and other international events, such as the upcoming Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The Department will continue to implement the pan-Canadian Concussion Strategy and promote safe, welcoming and inclusive sports environments.
o The Department will continue to implement the Indigenous Languages Act. Canadian Heritage will also support the establishment of the independent Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages, and work with various Indigenous organizations and UNESCO to prepare for the launch of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032).
o Canadian Heritage will prioritize the modernization and strengthening of the Official Languages Act, taking into account the unique reality of French in Canada, including in Quebec. It will continue to implement the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018–2023, and will work with CBC/Radio-Canada to develop content for and ensure the delivery of Mauril, a program to help people learn and maintain both official languages, English and French.
o The Department will highlight significant events in our collective heritage such as the 25th anniversary of National Indigenous Peoples Day, the 50th anniversary of the multiculturalism policy and the 75th anniversary of Viola Desmond challenging racial segregation.
• To support the delivery of these main priorities, Canadian Heritage will rely on a 2021-22 planned spending of $1.5 billion and 1,860 Full Time Equivalents. $210.3 million in Vote 1 (Operating); $1.3 billion in Vote 5 (Grants and Contributions); and $27.8 million in statutory.

• The 2021-22 Departmental Plan reflects amounts from the 2021-22 Main Estimates and does not include Budget 2021 items.

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