Policy Development

• Policy Development
• International Cultural Diversity Agenda
  • International Network on Cultural Policy
  • New International Instrument on Cultural Diversity
  • Coalition on Cultural Diversity
  • International Network on Cultural Diversity
• Emerging Policy Areas
  • Human Security Network

Policy Development

The Policy Development unit works in collaboration with the Multilateral Affairs and Bilateral Affairs units of the International Relations and Policy Development Directorate (IRPD) of the Department of Canadian Heritage. One of its main functions is to develop and advance new areas of international cultural policy, particularly Canada's international cultural diversity agenda and the pursuit of a New International Instrument on Cultural Diversity.

The Policy Development Unit is also responsible for advancing the critical contribution that Canadian Heritage areas of expertise can make to the Government of Canada's Foreign Policy and Trade Objectives. It works closely with other government departments and participates in various initiatives to advance government-wide, international priority issues such as cultural diversity, inclusion and cohesion, peace and human security, and human development.

In an increasingly globalized world, our domestic cultural policies and programs can no longer be developed and implemented in isolation from the international environment. The Policy Development unit is responsible for ensuring coherence with departmental as well as the Government of Canada's foreign policy and trade objectives. It also facilitates on-going collaboration and communication across the Canadian Heritage Portfolio to advance the international objectives of the Canadian Heritage Portfolio, such as international business development for Canadian cultural entrepreneurs, sharing Canadian expertise in the arts, heritage and multiculturalism and participating in international sporting events and international expositions.

This includes participation in various intra-governmental planning and working groups and the provision of strategic advice and forward looking research agendas. To this end, Policy Development partners with the Strategic Research and Analysis directorate of the Department of Canadian Heritage and works to influence the government's Policy Research Initiative.

International Cultural Diversity Agenda

The Policy Development unit has been at the forefront of Canadian Heritage's initiatives with respect to Canada's participation in the International Network on Cultural Policy (INCP) and Canada's leadership role in contributing to the development of a New International Instrument on Cultural Diversity.

In the policy development process, Canadian Heritage works to ensure that the voices of civil society are engaged and heard. In this regard, it has established an Experts Advisory Group - a group of 17 experts from the arts, creative industries, academia and non-governmental organizations - to provide advice to the Department on its approach to the International Cultural Diversity Agenda. The Policy Development Unit supports and provides financial assistance to the work of the the Coalition for Cultural Diversity (CCD), which consists of 32 Canadian national associations in the cultural milieu calling for a New International Instrument on Cultural Diversity (NIICD), and encourages Sister coalitions in other countries to support an NIICD; and the International Network on Cultural Diversity (INCD) which currently includes over 300 organizations from more than 40 countries and is a world wide network of artists and cultural groups dedicated to countering the homogenizing effects of globalization on culture. The Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA) houses the INCD's Secretariat.

Policy Development and Canadian Heritage at large will continue to play an active leadership role in the evolution of the international dialogue on cultural diversity with a view to fulfilling the Canadian Heritage international objectives of influencing the international environment, contributing to Canada's foreign policy objectives, and sharing expertise with the world.

Emerging Policy Areas

The Government of Canada and indeed the world community are becoming increasingly engaged on issues of cultural diversity in relation to achieving human security objectives:

• Strengthening social cohesion
• Advancing democracy
• Ensuring good governance - full civic participation
• Facilitating peaceful coexistence of various cultural identities within states
• Strengthening mutual understanding and respect

In order to achieve these and other human security objectives, Canada actively participates in the Human Security Network. Canadian Heritage will continue to contribute to the global dialogue on human security through our expertise on issues of cultural diversity and building social cohesion through our programs and policies. We will also continue to strengthen our partnerships with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) as well as international multilateral organizations and non-governmental organizations.