Pascale St-Onge has been appointed the new Minister of Canadian Heritage as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an anticipated cabinet shuffle Wednesday morning.
The Member of Parliament for Brome-Missisquoi, St-Onge previously served as Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.
Her background includes serving as Secretary General and later President of the Fédération nationale des communications et de la culture, where she worked to develop public policy to address the challenges facing media, newspapers, and the cultural sector and programs to help adapt to shifts brought about by digital platforms. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Literary Studies from the Université du Québec à Montréal and studied Journalism at Université de Montréal.
Pablo Rodriguez becomes Minister of Transport and will continue to serve as Quebec Lieutenant. He had held responsibility for the Heritage portfolio since October 2021, after previously serving in the role in 2018-19.
François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, retains his portfolio.
“Minister St-Onge’s strong track record of leadership and advocacy for the media and cultural sector will be invaluable as we work together to invest in our industry in a rapidly changing digital landscape,” said Valerie Creighton, President & CEO of the Canada Media Fund (CMF), in a statement. “I am eager to collaborate with her and her team on the CMF’s transition towards a modernized system that better supports the creation of compelling Canadian and Indigenous stories and that ensures the continued vitality and resilience of Canada’s screen-based production sector.”
Both Creighton and the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) also noted Rodriguez’s work to get passage for the Online Streaming Act.
“We thank Minister Rodriguez for his strong support of Canada’s independent film and television production sector, and his heroic efforts to secure the passage of Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act. The federal government’s commitment to modernize Canada’s Broadcasting Act will level the playing field for domestic broadcasters, creators and independent producers, and will ensure that more Canadian stories are seen on screens at home and abroad,” the CMPA stated. “We also welcome incoming Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, and look forward to working with her as she continues the government’s legacy of steadfast support for Canada’s media production sector.”
With the changes announced Wednesday, the Ministry retains a total of 38 ministers, in addition to the Prime Minister. In keeping with the precedent set in 2015, there is an equal number of women and men.
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