Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expanded Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge’s responsibilities in his cabinet with two new roles.

Effective Thursday (Feb. 6), St-Onge has taken on the roles of Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada in Quebec.

St-Onge takes over from Quebec MP Soraya Martinez Ferrada, who resigned from the dual roles in order to run in the Montreal mayoral campaign. She previously held the economic development role from October 2021 to July 2023 when she was Minister of Sport.

Kelly Wilhelm, strategy consultant and head of the Cultural Policy Hub at OCAD University, tells Playback Daily that the appointment should be considered a temporary one in light of the upcoming Liberal leadership race.

“Everything is very fluid. We’re a month away from there being a new Prime Minister, at which point anything is possible in terms of cabinet positions and how that incoming person wants to manage cabinet responsibilities,” she says.

Wilhelm points out that St-Onge had two cabinet positions prior to her Heritage appointment. Ferrada took over for St-Onge in the economic development role once the latter moved to Canadian Heritage.

The move shouldn’t signal cause for concern among Canada’s screen sector, says Wilhelm. In essence, it’s housekeeping, given Ferrada’s resignation.

“It’s a practical solution to a vacancy being created in cabinet,” she says. “It makes a lot of sense for her to take on these responsibilities, given her past experience and her familiarity with the file.”

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