When the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) and Radio-Canada, in the affair of the word beginning with N, went through storms, Pablo Rodriguez remained rather discreet. He was content to answer questions from journalists during the scrums, but there was no outcry on his part.
Now that the dust has settled, he has agreed to meet me. The contact was cordial, the words clear. “My role is to put the right people in place and to trust these people and the institutions. If we make mistakes in appointing these people, we have to assume them. »
This distance that he wishes to respect does not prevent direct interventions. And when he does, he manages to aim for the right pawn. In the case of the NGC, it was done with Françoise Lyon, the president of the board of directors. “Of course I wanted to get a picture of the situation. »
As for Catherine Tait, president of CBC/Radio-Canada, he did not hesitate to let her know that his intervention with Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada (the latter threatening to “defund” the state corporation if his party is elected), was not a good idea.
Pablo Rodriguez “made it clear” to Catherine Tait that she should not have written to him to obtain a meeting with him.
I think that any leader must maintain this neutrality which is necessary in the exercise of his functions. Mr. Poilievre, who has a visceral hatred for the CBC, uses it to raise funds and feed his base which is rather on the right.
pablo rodriguez
Still on the subject of Catherine Tait, whose term expires in July, it was a great opportunity to take stock of the process of hiring her successor. “It’s on. We continue to watch this. There are all sorts of imperatives,” he said.
The mandate of Catherine Tait could be renewed, this has already been seen in the past. On this, Pablo Rodriguez was cautious. “She has her strengths and her weaknesses… like all leaders. We look at the possibilities of renewal or not. »
Crisis at the NGC
If the file of the presidency of CBC/Radio-Canada progresses slowly, that of the direction of the NGC monopolizes more energy in Ottawa. “There is an urgent need to act,” Pablo Rodriguez told me. I would call it an expedited process. We put lines in the water, we met a lot of people. I think it is important for there to be new leadership to restore confidence in the institution. »
The wave of dismissals of several big names from the NGC in recent months has greatly worried the cultural community. “However, there are secret elements in there, specifies Pablo Rodriguez. An internal version justifies these decisions. I did not want to interfere in the management of human resources, but I was told that there were cases that had been dragging on for years. »
During an interview with Nathalie Bondil, former CEO of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the latter admitted to me that she had received calls from lights in Ottawa to take charge of the management of the NGC. Pablo Rodriguez couldn’t suppress a laugh when I told him about this.
“Yes, I am aware of that. My directives were clear: I want the best person and as soon as possible. I think we can’t be wrong and we’re not going to be wrong. That said, these are independent committees that I allow to work. The stage where I will be informed of the choices will come later. »
Inclusion and diversity
The trend of grafting values of inclusion, equity and diversity into the world of culture affects each of the institutions for which Pablo Rodriguez is responsible. We are witnessing a real revolution. “Yes, there is a desire to change things, but I think we have to look at it with a new eye without judging the past. Do not think that everything that was there before is not good. I will never accept that philosophy. »
Pablo Rodriguez recognizes that this change is sometimes difficult for the public, the cultural community and certain chroniclers.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage
I often say that if there is a delicate department in Ottawa, it is definitely that of Canadian Heritage because it touches on issues of identity, language and culture. Yes, it’s not always easy to make this transformation, but we must take into account the fact that over time, there are people who have been hurt and excluded.
pablo rodriguez
When the 2023-2024 budget was unveiled, we learned that the Department of Canadian Heritage would be dealing with a budget of $1.94 billion, or $240 million less than last year. Pablo Rodriguez wanted to qualify these figures. “In fact, there is no less money. When we look at it more closely, in the previous 2021-2022 budget, there were sectors that received money over two or three years. »
The specter of a period of austerity from 2024-2025 has been raised for several weeks. Should federal cultural institutions (Canada Council for the Arts, National Film Board, Telefilm, Media Fund, national museums, etc.) start to worry? “That’s if I can’t get it to increase,” he answers straight up. When we make commitments, it is for a full mandate. I only have half the term left to deliver this. This is my job to achieve that. »
I was recently told about the concern that reigns at Radio-Canada about a reduction in its budget. “Maybe you’ve been told that, but I don’t think they’re worried. There was this envelope in previous budgets and there is always the possibility of getting money from other budgets. »
Rodriguez’s Legacy
Pablo Rodriguez has a reputation for being a hard worker. In addition to his duties as lieutenant of Quebec (which obliges him to be aware of the major issues of his colleagues), he also assumes those of Minister of Heritage. Is it because of this energy that Justin Trudeau asked him to take over culture and communications during the October 2021 reshuffle? “Actually, I was the one who asked to come back,” he said. Being Minister of Heritage has been the best experience of my life. I wanted to come back because I wanted to complete Bills C-11 and C-18. »
These two laws will most certainly be the legacy of Pablo Rodriguez. Bill C-11 will give new powers to the CRTC, particularly with respect to digital giants. As for Bill C-18, it will force major web players, such as Google and Meta, to compensate media outlets for the republication of their news content or the creation of links to such content.
Bill C-11 should take the final step very soon. This is why some have judged that the intervention of Mathieu Lacombe, Minister of Culture and Communications in Quebec (he wants the measures adopted to take into account the cultural specificities of Quebec), came much too late.
“Reopening the project would be a bad thing. We would have to go back to committee and that would give the Conservatives an opportunity to kill him. »
That said, Mathieu Lacombe is right about the importance of consulting Quebec. And I will reinforce that in my directive to the CRTC when the law is passed. I understand that. I’m still Quebecois to the core.
pablo rodriguez
As for Bill C-18, it seems to be firmly on track, according to Pablo Rodriguez. “She has just taken an important step, because she has been sent by the Senate to the committee where I will appear. I have every hope that this law will be passed by June, when the House rises. »
If Pablo Rodriguez achieves this goal, Canada will join the few countries, such as Australia, to have stood up to those who thought they could come here to plunder our content without shame.
Pablo Rodriguez wants to “finish the job “. Let’s hope that his tenacity takes the form of a legacy.