e-3725 (Business and trade)

The Government would like to thank the petitioners for raising their views regarding passing legislation to promote Canadian fashion in the national interest and add the Canada Fashion Network to the list of organizations that make up the Canadian Heritage Portfolio.

The Government recognizes the important contribution of the fashion industry to the Canadian economy and the number of Canadians it employs and understands the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canada’s creative industries, including the fashion industry, which was one of the hardest hit industries of the Canadian economy. We acknowledge that many sectors of the creative industries are still recovering from the effects of the pandemic.

Since 2016, the definition of “creative industries” used by the Department of Canadian Heritage has been broadened to include a wider range of industries that contribute to the creative sector, including the fashion and design industries. These industries have been eligible for Canadian Heritage programs and services through the Creative Export Strategy since its launch in 2018. The Strategy’s main objective is to support creative industries in achieving their international business objectives and to stand out in the global market. This includes, but is not limited to, participation at Canadian Heritage-led trade missions, trade programming at domestic and international cultural events, support and advice through Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service, and the Creative Export Canada (CEC) funding program.

As an example, the High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom (London) launched Showroom Canada in February/March 2021. Showroom Canada is a digital trade initiative showcasing award-winning Canadian fashion design companies, delivered in partnership with the Toronto Fashion Incubator, the Department of Canadian Heritage, and the Canadian Apparel Federation. Showroom Canada featured 14 Canadian apparel and accessories designers and was hosted on the JOOR platform for six weeks during the key buying season for Fall/Winter 2021 collections. It was scheduled to coincide with London Fashion Week and on the margins of Milan, New York, and Paris Fashion Weeks. 

Export-ready projects in the fashion and design industries are also eligible for funding under the CEC program. Since the program’s launch, the CEC has funded two fashion design projects, which have shown great promise at meeting the program’s objectives of generating export revenues and increasing the discoverability of Canadian creative content.

As the funding for the current iteration of the Creative Export Strategy will be expiring on March 31, 2023, Canadian Heritage is in the process of renewing the Strategy. Since summer 2021, the Department of Canadian Heritage, in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada, has held multiple public engagement sessions with creative industry stakeholders and partners, including from the fashion and design sectors. These engagement sessions are meant to inform the policy and program design of a renewed Strategy. A What We Heard report summarizing the feedback received will be published on Canadian Heritage’s website in spring 2022.

The Canadian Heritage Portfolio, is a group of federal organizations, which includes two special operating agencies, three departmental agencies, 11 Crown corporations, and two administrative tribunals. Federal agencies are generally established in statute by Parliament to assist the government in carrying out its responsibilities to the Canadian public. Given that the Canada Fashion Network is not a federal agency, but rather a not-for profit organization, it is not possible for it to be added to the Portfolio of Canadian Heritage. To be part of the Portfolio, it would need to have been established by Parliament.

The Government of Canada remains committed to supporting and promoting all creative industries sectors in their export endeavors, including the fashion industry and looks forward to future collaboration with this sub-sector.