Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge will not seek re-election: source

Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge has made the decision not to seek re-election, as reported by Radio-Canada. However, before stepping down, she plans to unveil her proposal to modernize CBC/Radio-Canada’s mandate. St-Onge, who represents the riding of Brome-Missisquoi in Quebec and was elected in 2021, will complete her term as minister and MP.

A Liberal source revealed that St-Onge will announce her decision this week, citing a desire to dedicate more time to her family, especially after recently welcoming a child with her spouse. In addition to her role as heritage minister, St-Onge has taken on interim portfolios for Tourism and the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, following the announcement of her predecessor, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, to run for mayor of Montreal.

St-Onge’s upcoming proposal to modernize CBC/Radio-Canada’s mandate in the Broadcasting Act, a document that has not been revised since 1991, is a key part of her mandate as Heritage Minister. She has assembled a committee of experts to advise her on the public broadcaster’s financing, governance, and mission. One of St-Onge’s objectives is to legally establish the independence of programming for Radio-Canada’s French services from that of CBC.

With the possibility of an imminent election and Parliament prorogued, the passage of St-Onge’s proposal in the House of Commons remains uncertain. However, she intends to rally support from Liberal leadership candidates and urge them to commit to adopting her plan at the earliest opportunity. St-Onge believes that the ongoing threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to make Canada the 51st U.S. state underscore the urgency of updating the public broadcaster’s mandate.

St-Onge views CBC/Radio-Canada as a crucial tool for cultural sovereignty and a reliable source of information. She aims to counter Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s pledge to defund CBC by emphasizing the importance of supporting Radio-Canada’s French services. Critics have warned that Poilievre’s proposal could weaken the French-language public broadcaster, given the interconnected nature of the two entities.

When reached for comment, St-Onge’s office declined to provide a statement on the matter. As she prepares to exit the political arena, St-Onge’s proposal for modernizing CBC/Radio-Canada’s mandate stands as a significant initiative that could shape the future of public broadcasting in Canada.