CMA | Canadian Museums Association

January 18, 2021

Statement by Canadian Museums Association regarding supplementary mandate letter to Heritage Minister

The Canadian Museums Association (CMA) is encouraged to see that a new national museum policy remains a priority for the Government of Canada and that the government also plans to introduce specific measures to support sectors hit hardest by the pandemic, including the cultural and heritage sectors. This is according to the supplementary mandate letter to the Minister of Canadian Heritage from the Prime Minister of Canada on Friday.

The Prime Minister makes it clear that nothing in the supplementary mandate letter “replaces any previous commitments or expectations.” Rather, the new letter adds to those 2019 commitments in light of the impacts of COVID-19.

“We have been consistent in our calls for renewal of the incredibly outdated national museum policy, for additional pandemic relief, for more federal funding to museums and for a greater recognition of the tremendous benefits of museums to the economy and society,” wrote Dr. Vanda Vitali, Ph.D, Executive Director of the CMA to the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage. “It is heartening to see that museums remain on your radar and that we can expect to see movement in these areas.”

The CMA has emphasized that, rather than going on the backburner, an updated policy should actually be prioritized, as it is vital to pandemic recovery and to establishing museums’ resilience. A new policy would enable museums to enhance their contributions to key societal issues such as environmental sustainability, reconciliation and social cohesion – all priorities highlighted in the recent letters. The CMA has offered to lead the museum policy renewal work with — or on behalf of — the Department of Canadian Heritage and museums across Canada and in collaboration with its provincial and territorial partners. The CMA has also urged the government to increase museums’ funding levels, which are much too low under the current Museums Assistance Program (MAP). The CMA and its members are grateful for the one-time pandemic relief provided in 2020. That being said, until the museum policy is updated and until there is a more sustainable funding model, continued and sufficient emergency support for museums and for the associations that must support them is critical to their survival.

The CMA looks forward to learning more about the government’s specific plans to address the commitments in the mandate letters and to working collaboratively with the Minister and the Department of Canadian Heritage on these key issues.

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For more information: communications@museums.ca.