Government initiative to integrate culture into sustainable development under the Government Sustainable Development Strategy (2015-2020)

The aim of the key action in Quebec's Agenda 21 for Culture (A21C), implementation of the Governmental Culture Initiative, is to more fully integrate culture into the government's sustainable development efforts. The key word in this initiative is "integration," which in concrete terms means taking culture into account to promote

* the achievement of social, economic, territorial and environmental development objectives in the government's sustainable development efforts;
* respect for its identity, the richness of its diversity, the sustainable use of its resources, and support for its dynamic nature reflected in its potential for creativity and innovation.

As part of Quebec's Government Sustainable Development Strategy 2015-2020 (GSDS), the governmental culture initiative, launched in 2013, is a commitment that applies to all Quebec departments and agencies (approximately 110) covered by the Sustainable Development Act (SDA) of 2006.

Starting on April 1, 2016, each of the government organizations concerned had to add to its Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP) at least one action that contributes to the achievement of one of the 27 objectives of the 2015-2020 GSDS, including Objective 1.5, which deals specifically with culture: enhance access to and participation in cultural life as a driver of social, economic and territorial development. Implementation of this project took place over a four-year period, from April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2020.

Examples:
* The Ministere du Tourisme (MTO [Ministry of Tourism]): Action 8 of MTO's 2017-2020 Sustainable Development Action Plan supports tourism industry partners to enhance Quebec's economic vitality and tourist appeal, while facilitating access to and participation in cultural life. The SDAP also confirms MTO's contribution to enhancing access to and participation in cultural life through its support for festivals and events and for sectoral and regional tourism associations.

* LOJIQ [Quebec International Youth Offices]): Recognizing the importance of integrating the cultural component into the three dimensions of sustainable development, LOJIQ is committed to addressing all the objectives of Quebec's Agenda 21 for Culture in its activities, particularly Objective 11: recognize and promote culture as a driver of sustainable economic development at the local, regional and provincial levels; promote the economic benefits of Quebec culture; develop new models of economic support for culture and for promoting cultural patronage; promote cultural entrepreneurship in all its forms; support Quebec's cultural presence on the international scene; and include it in local and regional economic planning. For the last several years, LOJIQ has been actively supporting young, up-and-coming artists, creators, artisans and arts, culture and communications workers in their international endeavours.

In 2018, MCC adopted Quebec's new cultural policy entitled Partout, la culture (see Section 1.1.1) and the 2018-2023 government action plan for culture (see Section 1.1.2). Essentially, the new cultural policy aims higher; it not only takes into account the 21 principles of the A21C, but also gives concrete expression to the integrated vision of culture and sustainable development advocated by the Chantier gouvernemental en culture [Governmental Culture Initiative]. It thus embodies a commitment to a new integrated conception of the link between culture and sustainable development. Specifically, it includes four major directions based on the three dimensions of sustainable development - social, environmental and economic development - plus territorial development.