The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport was created on January 18, 2010 when the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Tourism were combined under one ministry. Sport was added to the portfolio in 2011. It is responsible for the development of policies and programs and the operation of programs related to tourism, arts, cultural industries, heritage sectors and libraries, in Ontario. The Ministry works in partnership with its agencies, attractions, boards and commissions and the private sector to maximize the economic, cultural and social contributions of its agencies and attractions, while promoting the tourism industry and preserving Ontario's culture and heritage. Eleanor McMahon was appointed minister on June 13, 2016. Her Parliamentary Assistant is Sophie Kiwala.
Travel and Publicity
George Arthur Welsh, 1946-1948
Louis-Pierre Cécile, 1948-1955
Bryan Lewis Cathcart, 1955-1963
James Auld, 1963-1974
James Auld, 1964-1971
Fernand Guindon, 1971-1972
John White, 1972 (February–April)
Industry and Tourism
John White, 1972-1973
Claude Bennett, 1973-1978
John Rhodes, 1978 (January–September)
Larry Grossman, 1978-1982
Culture and Recreation
Bob Welch, 1975-1978
Reuben Baetz, 1978-1982
Tourism and Recreation
Reuben Baetz, 1982-1985
Claude Bennett, 1985 (February–June)
John Eakins, 1985-1987
Hugh O'Neil, 1987-1989
Ken Black, 1989-1990
Peter North, 1990-1992
Ed Philip, 1992-1993
Culture and Communications
Lily Munro, 1987-1989
Christine Hart, 1989-1990
Hugh O'Neil, 1990 (June–September)
Rosario Marchese, 1990-1991
Karen Haslam, 1991-1993
Culture, Tourism and Recreation
Anne Swarbrick, 1993-1995
Citizenship, Culture and Recreation
Marilyn Mushinski, 1995-1997
Isabel Bassett, 1997-1999
Helen Johns, 1999-2001
Economic Development, Trade and Tourism
Al Palladini, 1997-1999
Cam Jackson, 1999-2001
Culture, Tourism and Recreation
Tim Hudak, 2001-2002
Cam Jackson, 2002 (April–October)
Brian Coburn, 2003 (February–October)
David Tsubouchi, 2002-2003
Madeleine Meilleur, 2003-2006
Caroline Di Cocco, 2006-2007
Aileen Carroll, 2007-2010
Jim Bradley, 2003-2007
Peter Fonseca, 2007-2008
Monique Smith, 2008-2010
Tourism and Culture
Michael Chan, 2010-2011
Tourism, Culture and Sport
Michael Chan, 2011-2014
Michael Coteau, 2014–2016
Eleanor McMahon, 2016-present
The ministry structure includes:
Minister's Office
Deputy Minister's Office
Communications Branch
Regional and Corporate Services Division (shared with the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration)
Culture Division
Assistant Deputy Minister's Office
Culture Agencies Branch
Culture Agencies Unit - manages the ministry's relationship with its agencies to achieve shared cultural objectives, including infrastructure renewal and cultural tourism promotion.
Culture Policy Branch
Culture Policy Unit - leads the development of cultural policy, sector or industry specific strategies, legislation and regulations for Ontario's arts, heritage, libraries and cultural industries.
Strategic Policy and Planning Unit - leads the development of strategic policy and multi-year plans, assess research on best practices across jurisdictions and coordinate policy development with other ministries and levels of government.
Culture Program and Services Branch
Culture Programs Unit - coordinates and manages all ministry programs and grants for the full range of stakeholder organizations, providing our cultural sector partners with one-window customer service.
Culture Services Unit - develops and coordinates guidelines and tools for service delivery, provides advice and interpretation of relevant legislation and conducts stakeholder education, training and outreach on key cultural initiatives.
Tourism Planning and Operations Division
Tourism Agencies Branch - responsible for policy, financial and program liaison with the ministry's tourism agencies and attractions. In addition, it establishes and maintains an effective accountability relationship between each agency and the ministry within its scope of broader government policy.
Tourism Policy and Development Division
Investment and Development Office - works to increase Ontario's competitiveness by supporting destination and experience development in Ontario's tourism sector. In addition, IDO administers the Sport, Culture and Tourism Partnership Program.
Tourism Policy and Research Branch
Resource-Based Tourism - works to protect, diversify and enhance resource-based tourism business potential on Ontario's Crown lands and waters. The unit provides strategic policy planning advice, analysis, and facilities alliances with key stakeholders to stimulate tourism business opportunities. It issues Resource-Based Tourism Establishment Licenses under the Tourism Act and Regulation 1037, and supports the development of Resource Stewardship Agreements between the resource-based tourism and forest industries.
Strategic and Corporate Policy Unit - works with Ontario's tourism industry to implement Ontario's Tourism Strategy; creating and reviewing tourism policy by working with tourism industry associations, and by working with other provincial ministries and the federal government to ensure the needs of Ontario's tourism industry are considered in all areas of policy development. The unit acts as the primary Ministry liaison with Cabinet Office and provides the Minister and Deputy Minister with policy advice on Cabinet/Cabinet committees and Deputy Ministers' committee agenda items. The unit works with ministry staff to develop policy submissions and coordinate their passage through the government decision-making process.
Tourism Research Unit - guides marketing, policy and product development decisions by providing strategic information and analysis. The section responsibilities include monitoring domestic and international tourism trends and determining their impact on Ontario's tourism industry; forecasting; tourism statistics, e.g., visitation; product research; economic impact analyses; designing and conducting relevant research initiatives (supply-side and demand-side) to increase competitiveness.
War of 1812 Commemoration Planning
Cultural agencies overseen by the ministry include:
Art Gallery of Ontario
Conservation Review Board
McMichael Canadian Art Collection
Ontario Arts Council
Ontario Heritage Trust
Ontario Media Development Corporation
Ontario Science Centre
Ontario Trillium Foundation
Royal Botanical Gardens
Royal Ontario Museum
Science North
Trillium Book Award
Southern Ontario Library Service (see Ontario Public Libraries)
Ontario Library Service North (see Ontario Public Libraries)
Tourism agencies and attractions overseen by the ministry include:
Fort William Historical Park
Huronia Historical Parks: Sainte-Marie among the Hurons and Discovery Harbour
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Niagara Parks Commission
Ontario Place Corporation
Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation
Ottawa Convention Centre
St. Lawrence Parks Commission
