Ministerial Mandate Letter and Library and Archives Canada

The new Minister of Canadian Heritage has received a mandate letter from the Prime Minister. It directs the Minister's top priorities:

- Review current plans for Canada 150 and champion government-wide efforts to promote this important celebration.
- Restore and increase funding for CBC/Radio-Canada, following consultation with the broadcaster and the Canadian cultural community.
- Review the process by which members are appointed to the CBC/Radio-Canada Board of Directors, to ensure merit-based and independent appointments.
- Double investment in the Canada Council for the Arts.
- Increase funding for Telefilm Canada and the National Film Board.
- Restore the Promart and Trade Routes International cultural promotion programs, update their design, and increase related funding.
- Increase funding for the Young Canada Works program to help prepare the next generation of Canadians working in the heritage sector.
- Work with the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities to make significant new investments in cultural infrastructure as part of our investment in social infrastructure.
- Develop a new multi-year Official Languages plan to support English and French linguistic minorities.
- Establish a free, online service for learning and retaining English and French as second languages.
- Work with the President of the Treasury Board to ensure that all federal services are delivered in full compliance with the Official Languages Act.
- Work in collaboration with the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs to provide new funding to promote, preserve and enhance Indigenous languages and cultures.
- Work with the Minister of Justice to update and reinstate a Court Challenges Program.

While there is no direct reference to Library and Archives Canada, which is a disappointment, LAC has a role in some of these, especially Canada150. This is a point the Librarian and Archivist of Canada will be able to make in meeting the Minister.

The next opportunity to gain insight into government priorities will be the Speech from the Throne when Parliament opens.