Isabelle Mondou
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
Opening remarks
We don't, and it could be a good question for the CEO. I think you have called her before this committee. Maybe that's a good question for her when she appears.
Meeting 3 · September 24, 2025 · 16:30–18:34 (2h 4m)
45-14 witnesses · 224 interventions · 15,300 words
The committee was studying the mandate and priorities of the Department of Canadian Heritage, and appeared before it were Isabelle Mondou (Deputy Minister), Andrew Campbell (Senior Vice-President, Operations, Parks Canada Agency), Joëlle Montminy (Senior Assistant Deputy Minister), and Andrew Brown (Associate Deputy Minister).
Isabelle Mondou said the department is reviewing programs and public service jobs to meet a 15% spending reduction target over three years, with no programs excluded from the review. She noted that the department is modernizing its application processes to make them less cumbersome for organizations, and that the Canada Strong Pass program was cost-neutral for participants, with Parks Canada tracking free entries and expecting compensation from Treasury Board. She confirmed that the department continues to work on a framework for online harms legislation, building on Bill C-63, but that the timing of any new bill is a government decision.
Andrew Campbell said Parks Canada saw a 10% increase in visits during the Canada Strong Pass program and that most tourism businesses near parks and historic sites reported benefiting from it. He said the agency is open to discussing losses with businesses that have a direct relationship with Parks Canada but cannot address problems beyond that scope. He also said interpreters in national parks reach 25 million Canadians annually through programs that address climate change and environmental issues.
Joëlle Montminy said that in the past year, 404 organizations received funding through the local journalism initiative, supporting 700 journalist positions. She did not provide a specific breakdown of how many of those serve ethnic or multilingual communities.
Andrew Brown said the department funds community-based initiatives to combat anti-Semitism and Islamophobia through programs under the multiculturalism and anti-racism banner, and through a separate national Holocaust remembrance program launched earlier this year. He said the department worked with the special envoy on Holocaust remembrance to identify Jewish organizations with the capacity to carry out projects.
The committee briefly discussed scheduling, agreeing that if the CRTC chair cannot appear on October 1, they would begin the study on artificial intelligence, with witness names to be provided to the clerk promptly.
AI-generated summary — may contain errors; verify against the official evidence.
Isabelle Mondou
Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
Opening remarks
We don't, and it could be a good question for the CEO. I think you have called her before this committee. Maybe that's a good question for her when she appears.
Andrew Campbell
Senior Vice-President, Operations, Parks Canada Agency
Opening remarks
Thank you very much. We kept track of those who came into national parks and national historic sites for free, and we will be compensated for the value of those individuals who came into national parks and national historic sites over the two-month period of the “Canada Strong” pass.
Joëlle Montminy
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
Opening remarks
In the past year, 404 organizations received funding. In terms of news organizations, that represents 700 journalist positions.
Andrew Brown
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Canadian Heritage
Opening remarks
I think you've characterized the situation across the country really accurately in terms of some of the sorts of divisions we're seeing. We're really trying to tackle challenges that are facing communities through a number of different programs. First and foremost are really the programs that are under the multiculturalism and anti-racism banner. We've had a number of calls in the last year and have been able to fund community organizations across the country in terms of programming that is aimed to bring people together and combat hate and tackle anti-racism. We also launched a separate program earlier this year, the national Holocaust remembrance program, particularly targeted at anti-Semitism. In that regard we've been working with and providing funding to a number of Jewish organizations. To do so, we actually worked with a special envoy on Holocaust remembrance and combatting anti-Semitism to identify Jewish organizations across the country that would have the capacity to carry out these projects.