Canadian Museums Policy

Heritage Branch, Canadian Heritage

In May 2022, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Pablo Rodriguez, announced the renewal of the Museum Policy. Since then, we have been working hard conducting research and gathering input to support this project. Why is the renewal necessary? Because the current policy (last updated in 1990) predates not only the digital transformation but also significant societal changes, including reconciliation. In addition, the pandemic posed a new set of challenges for the sector and highlighted financial vulnerabilities.

What is the Museum Policy?

The Museum Policy is a document that sets out the principles that will guide the government’s support to the not-for-profit heritage sector, though it is not itself a funding commitment. Federal support to the sector currently falls into three areas:

Legislative measures (e.g. Cultural Property Export and Import Act, Canada Travelling Exhibitions Indemnification Act)
Program Funding (e.g. Museums Assistance Program, Young Canada Works — Heritage, etc.)
Services (e.g. Canadian Conservation Institute, Canadian Heritage Information Network)

The guiding principles laid out in the policy will shape how funding programs are designed and implemented and how services are delivered.

Note that although it is currently called the Canadian Museum Policy, we are looking at a broad definition of museum that encompasses a range of not-for-profit heritage institutions. The policy does not apply to the national museums, who are governed by the Museums Act ( https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/m-13.4/).

Progress so far

Our first step was to hear from the heritage sector itself. Last October, a survey was emailed to approximately 2,450 heritage institutions, including museums, art galleries, archives, heritage sites, botanical gardens and zoos across Canada. Canadian universities and colleges offering museum or archival professional and academic programs were also invited to participate. More than 790 institutions participated, for a response rate of 31%. The results of this survey will be posted soon on the Museum Policy consultation website.

We then invited Canadians to complete an online questionnaire (March-April 2023) and share their views and thoughts via email, written submission, or any other document of interest to our email address: politiquemuseale-museumpolicy@pch.gc.ca.

In addition to seeking Indigenous input at every stage of this consultation process, we are also undertaking dedicated engagement activities to hear directly from First Nations, Inuit and Métis heritage organizations, Elders and experts, as well as the National Indigenous Organizations. Through a competitive bid process, Canadian Heritage contracted Archipel Consulting Ltd, an Indigenous-owned firm, to deliver this element. Archipel is planning to reach out to Indigenous partners through Social Circles and one-on-one talks in May 2023. The Department is also consulting directly with modern treaty holders and self-governments through a separate process running from January to April 2023.

Finally, Canadian Heritage expects to hold eight virtual dialogue sessions with heritage institutions and associations. The discussions with the associations took place in February and March 2023. The remaining sessions are set for April and May 2023, and participants will receive an invitation to attend. Though space is limited, we are seeking to engage institutions, large and small, rural and urban, to try to capture the different realities of the sector. Five key themes will be discussed in these sessions, including:

The role of museums in society;
resilience and sustainability in the sector;
reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples;
equity, diversity and inclusion; and
preservation and access, including the digital transformation.

Next steps and expected outcomes

Once we gather all the information needed, we will analyze the input received and draft an updated policy and implementation options. We are currently anticipating that a renewed policy will be ready for approval in the fall of 2023.

A renewed policy will guide future government action, including any modernization of existing programs and services — though some change may take time. There are important things to remember about government policy and potential orientations:

any new investments must go through a budget process and can be affected by a range of factors;
adjustments to programs and services (e.g., major changes to program eligibility criteria) also require an approval process and
any future proposed changes to legislation must go through Parliament.

We believe that this renewal will not only set out aspirations for Canada’s museums of the future, but also have a positive impact on how we protect our heritage and how Canadians will be able to access it. Thank you for your participation and your support as we undertake this significant project. We encourage you to share your thoughts and views with us via email ( politiquemuseale-museumpolicy@pch.gc.ca) and to look for future updates on the website. M

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/renewal-museum-policy.html