The fate of Canada’s woebegone film and television sector is in the hands of three new federal cabinet ministers, including an unknown who is now in charge of Canadian culture.

Helene Chalifour Scherrer replaced Sheila Copps as minister of Canadian heritage last month – part of Paul Martin’s sweep of Parliament Hill when he was installed as the new prime minister Dec. 12.

Long-term politician Ralph Goodale is the new minister of finance, replacing John Manley. Lucienne Robillard, a cabinet veteran under former PM Jean Chretien, has been moved from the Ministry of Labour to the Ministry of Industry, formerly run by Allan Rock.

Scherrer’s appointment has raised eyebrows among industry insiders. Stephen Waddell, national executive director of ACTRA, notes that her culture credentials are not entirely clear, especially when compared to those of Copps, who held herself out as a champion of the arts.

‘Like others in the industry, we haven’t met with the new minister,’ says Waddell. ‘But she’s Canadian so she must be concerned about our issues.

‘We’re optimistic and we have lots to talk about. We’re concerned about the restoration of the Canadian Television Fund. We want to see some stability and long-term commitment to the CTF, even enhanced commitment and more money,’ he adds.

The new postings come as Martin talks about holding off new spending, which has alarmed industry lobbyists working to get the CTF restored – which Martin had promised in his leadership campaign.

‘Clearly, these are capable people,’ says Guy Mayson, acting president and CEO of the CFTPA. ‘Goodale is a strong supporter of the industry. The jury is still out on the new heritage minister, but we are optimistic.’

Mayson, who has met with Martin’s advisory team throughout the summer, says the new government has a lot of faith in the Canadian film and television industry.

‘We’re confident they have a good understanding of the challenges facing the industry,’ he says.

Scherrer, 53, is a Quebec City native with a bachelor’s degree in social work from Laval University. She worked with families at the Centre des services sociaux de Quebec and in the psychiatric section of Montreal’s Notre-Dame and Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospitals, and was elected as a Quebec City councilor in 1990, becoming an organizing force in sports, chairing the Mondiaux Juniors Alpins Quebec 2000. Scherrer won her Louis-Hebert riding in a 2000 by-election, the first Liberal to win the seat in 20 years, and has since sat on various committees including the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Canada-U.S. relations.

Scherrer has declined requests for interviews until later in January when she has a better grasp of her new portfolio.

Goodale, the member from Wascana in Saskatchewan, was first elected to Ottawa in 1974, and returned to the House in October 1993, earning reelection in 1997 and 2000. Previously, he has been minister of agriculture and agri-food, minister of natural resources, leader of the government in the House of Commons, and minister of public works and government services.

Robillard, the member from the riding of Westmount-Ville-Marie, was first elected to Ottawa in a 1995 by-election and has since been minister of labor, the minister responsible for the federal campaign in the Quebec referendum, minister of citizenship and immigration and co-chair of the electoral platform committee. Most recently, she was president of the Treasury Board and the minister responsible for infrastructure. Along with her current portfolio as industry minister, Robillard is also minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the regions of Quebec. She, too, has a background in social work.