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Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada and Quebec Lieutenant

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Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada and Quebec Lieutenant
Ministre de la Culture et de l’Identité canadiennes, Parcs Canada et lieutenant du Québec
since March 14, 2025
Department of Canadian Heritage
StyleThe Honourable
Member of
Reports to
AppointerMonarch (represented by the governor general);[3]
on the advice of the prime minister[4]
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
Inaugural holderSheila Copps
Formation12 July 1996
SalaryCA$269,800 (2019)[5]
Websitewww.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage.html
Politics of Canada
Government (structure)
The Crown
Executive
Legislative
Judicial
Elections
Local government
Foreign relations
Crown and Indigenous peoples
Related topics

The Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada and Quebec Lieutenant (French: Ministre de la Culture et de l’Identité canadiennes, Parcs Canada et lieutenant du Québec) is the minister of the Crown who heads Canadian Heritage, the department of the Government of Canada responsible for culture, media, sports, and the arts. Since 2025, it has also been responsible for Parks Canada (previously the responsibility of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and as Quebec lieutenant it's holder is the government's main advisor or spokesperson on issues specific to Quebec.

History

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The position was created in 1996 as the Minister of Canadian Heritage to combine the posts of minister of multiculturalism and citizenship and minister of communications. The "status of women" was merged from the minister responsible for the status of women in 2006. In 2008, the status of women portfolio was transferred to a minister of state.

On August 16, 2013, the multiculturalism portfolio was assigned to Jason Kenney, who was appointed minister for multiculturalism in addition to his other portfolios.

Those portfolios and responsibilities such as for the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, were returned to the heritage minister with the swearing in of the 29th Canadian Ministry in November 2015.[6] The heritage minister also gained responsibility for the National Capital Commission, which was formerly under the senior Ottawa-area cabinet minister under the Harper government; and the Canadian secretary to the Queen, which was previously under the Privy Council Office.[6]

The position was modified slightly on March 14, 2025, at the start of the 30th Canadian Ministry, gaining responsibility for Parks Canada from the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and being officially renamed the Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada and Quebec Lieutenant; while the role of Quebec lieutenant had previously been held by Pablo Rodriguez during his stint as Minister of Canadian Heritage, this was the first time the role of Quebec lieutenant was formally included in the minister's title.

Traditionally, the minister attends the Juno Awards to present the awards for Breakthrough Artist and Breakthrough Group Of The Year.

List of ministers

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Key:

  Liberal Party of Canada
  Conservative Party of Canada
No. Portrait Name Term of office Political party Ministry
Minister of Canadian Heritage
1 Sheila Copps July 12, 1996 December 11, 2003 Liberal 26 (Chrétien)
2 Hélène Scherrer December 12, 2003 July 19, 2004 27 (Martin)
3 Liza Frulla July 20, 2004 February 5, 2006
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women
4 Bev Oda February 6, 2006 August 14, 2007 Conservative 28 (Harper)
5 Josée Verner August 14, 2007 October 29, 2008
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
6 James Moore October 30, 2008 July 15, 2013 Conservative 28 (Harper)
7 Shelly Glover July 15, 2013 November 4, 2015
Minister of Canadian Heritage
8 Mélanie Joly November 4, 2015 July 18, 2018 Liberal 29 (J. Trudeau)
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
9 Pablo Rodriguez July 18, 2018 November 20, 2019 Liberal 29 (J. Trudeau)
Minister of Canadian Heritage
10 Steven Guilbeault November 20, 2019 October 26, 2021 Liberal 29 (J. Trudeau)
(9) Pablo Rodriguez October 26, 2021 July 26, 2023
11 Pascale St-Onge July 26, 2023 March 14, 2025[7]
Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada and Quebec Lieutenant
(10) Steven Guilbeault March 14, 2025[7] Incumbent Liberal 30 (Carney)

Responsibilities

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Prior to 2003, their responsibilities included National Parks and historic sites. The minister is responsible for:

Since 2025, the minister has also been responsible for Parks Canada and is the government's Quebec lieutenant.

General duties

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The minister's general powers, duties, and functions are set out by section 4 of the Department of Canadian Heritage Act,[8] which provides as follows:

(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

  • the promotion of a greater understanding of human rights, fundamental freedoms and related values;
  • multiculturalism;
  • the arts, including cultural aspects of the status of the artist;
  • cultural heritage and industries, including performing arts, visual and audio-visual arts, publishing, sound recording, film, video and literature;
  • national battlefields;
  • the encouragement, promotion and development of sport;
  • 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;
  • state ceremonial and Canadian symbols;
  • broadcasting, except in respect of spectrum management and the technical aspects of broadcasting;
  • the formulation of cultural policy, including the formulation of cultural policy as it relates to foreign investment and copyright;
  • the conservation, exportation and importation of cultural property; and
  • 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[9] (see minister responsible for Official Languages (Canada)).

References

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  1. ^ "The Canadian Parliamentary system - Our Procedure - House of Commons". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  2. ^ "Review of the Responsibilities and Accountabilities of Ministers and Senior Officials" (PDF).
  3. ^ "Constitutional Duties". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  4. ^ "House of Commons Procedure and Practice - 1. Parliamentary Institutions - Canadian Parliamentary Institutions". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  5. ^ "Indemnities, Salaries and Allowances". Library of Parliament. April 11, 2018. Archived from the original on June 1, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e McGregor, Janyce (7 November 2015). "Justin Trudeau's cabinet: 6 changes found in the fine print". CBC News. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Swearing-in of the 30th Canadian Ministry". Government of Canada. 14 March 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  8. ^ Department of Canadian Heritage Act, S.C. 1995, c. 11
  9. ^ Official Languages Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 31 (4th Supp.)

Sources

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