The Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE) welcomes the appointment of the Government of Quebec’s new Council of ministers and looks forward to working closely with the new ministerial team to advance the cultural sector’s key priorities.
It extends particular congratulations to Pascal Bérubé on their appointment as ministre de la Culture, du Patrimoine, des Communications et de la Langue française, Dieudonné Ella Oyono as ministre des Relations internationales, de la Francophonie et du Commerce extérieur, Stéphane Paquet as ministre du Développement économique, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie and Anne Nguyen as ministre de l’Intelligence artificielle et au Numérique. The CDCE also reiterates its congratulations to Pascal Paradis, the government’s chief diplom
Through their respective portfolios, these ministers will play a pivotal role in protecting and promoting the diversity of cultural expressions. Bringing together more than 50 organizations representing over 350,000 creators and some 3,000 cultural businesses across the country, half of them based in Quebec, the CDCE advocates for the cultural sector’s interests before the government and maintains an ongoing dialogue with it to advance policies that strengthen the sector at home and internationally. Its work focuses on the sector’s economic health, the treatment of culture in trade agreements, and the impacts of the digital environment, including artificial intelligence.
“Whether defending culture’s place in trade relations, advancing discoverability, or championing human creativity in the age of artificial intelligence, the CDCE is a key partner in identifying measures that enjoy broad support. We look forward to engaging with this new team to secure the future of our cultural ecosystems,” says Hélène Messier, Co-Chair of the CDCE and CEO of the Association québécoise de la production médiatique (AQPM).
Quebec played a leading role in developing UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and remains a recognized leader on the international stage. The CDCE encourages the new Council of ministers to build on this legacy and reaffirm Quebec’s cultural leadership worldwide.
With this in mind, the CDCE calls for continued progress on several critical fronts: adding a protocol to the 2005 Convention to address the challenges of the digital environment, defending culture in trade relations with the United States, and protecting the rights of creators and cultural businesses as artificial intelligence develops.
As this new political chapter begins, the CDCE urges the government to make culture a priority and reaffirms its commitment to helping turn that priority into action.