Mandate

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (“the Committee”) plays a central role in supporting cultural, artistic and civic activity in Canada, and in preserving and protecting Canada’s cultural and natural heritage and shared history. 

The Committee studies and reports on matters referred to it by the House of Commons or on topics the Committee itself chooses to examine.  It is a permanent committee established by the Standing Orders of the House. 

Powers

The power of the Committee to examine any matter referred to it by the House is found in Standing Order 108(1).  The Committee can report to the House, send for persons or records, and delegate its powers to subcommittees.  It can sit whether the House is sitting or adjourned and may sit jointly with other standing committees.  

Under Standing Order 108(2), the Committee also has the power to study and report on the policies, programs and legislation of the department and agencies assigned to it, as well as other matters relating to the mandate, management, organization or operation of the department and agencies, as the committee deems fit.  This includes examining expenditure plans and assessing the success and effectiveness of a wide range of organizations, programs and policies.  Key examples are:

• Department of Canadian Heritage
• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
• Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board
• Canadian Museum of Civilization
• Canadian Race Relations Foundation
• Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
• Library and Archives Canada
• National Battlefields Commission
• National Film Board of Canada
• Status of Women Canada

A comprehensive list of organizations, programs and policies administered through the Department of Canadian Heritage and which the Committee may study can be found on the Department's Web site. 

In addition to its cultural and civic mandate, the Committee may also study and report on the Public Service Commission, which reports to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

The Committee also has the specific mandate to monitor the implementation of the principles of the federal multiculturalism policy throughout the Government of Canada.  The object of this, as set out in Standing Order 108(3), is: 

• to encourage the departments and agencies of the federal government to reflect the multicultural diversity of the nation; and
• to examine existing and new programs and policies of federal departments and agencies to encourage sensitivity to multicultural concerns and to preserve and enhance the multicultural reality of Canada.

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