Department of Canadian Heritage Act

Marginal note:Minister’s powers, duties and functions

• 4 (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.

• Marginal note:Idem

  (2) The Minister’s jurisdiction referred to in subsection (1) encompasses, but is not limited to, jurisdiction over

  • (a) the promotion of a greater understanding of human rights, fundamental freedoms and related values;

  • (b) multiculturalism;

  • (c) the arts, including cultural aspects of the status of the artist;

  • (d) cultural heritage and industries, including performing arts, visual and audio-visual arts, publishing, sound recording, film, video and literature;

  • (e) national battlefields;

  • (f) the encouragement, promotion and development of sport;

  • (g) 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;

  • (h) state ceremonial and Canadian symbols;

  • (i) broadcasting, except in respect of spectrum management and the technical aspects of broadcasting;

  • (j) the formulation of cultural policy, including the formulation of cultural policy as it relates to foreign investment and copyright;

  • (k) the conservation, exportation and importation of cultural property;

  • (k.1) the organization, sponsorship and promotion of public activities and events, in the National Capital Region as defined in section 2 of the National Capital Act, that will enrich the cultural and social fabric of Canada, taking into account the federal character of Canada, the equality of status of the official languages of Canada and the heritage of the people of Canada; and

  • (l) national museums, archives and libraries.