Tri-Union I AM PWD Campaign Goes Global   Jul 21 2010 - Actors' Equity Association, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Screen Actors Guild today announced that the International Federation of Actors, also known as FIA (Fédération Internationale des Acteurs), has endorsed the unions' global I AM PWD campaign.     The Long-Form Census Controversy and the Arts   Jul 21 2010 - ACTRA has sent a letter to Industry Minister Tony Clement asking him to abandon plans to scrap the compulsory long-form census. In order to improve working conditions, increase employment opportunities and advocate for public policies that benefit our members, we rely upon sound data on Canada's arts and cultural industries.     Budget 2011: Have your say!   Jul 21 2010 - The next federal budget may be many months away, but the Finance Committee is already seeking Canadians' input and we need to make sure arts and culture issues are top of MPs' minds! Make sure your voice is heard before August 13th.     JAY BARUCHEL TO RECEIVE ACTRA MONTREAL'S AWARD OF EXCELLENCE The ACTRA Awards in Montreal: Saturday, September 11, 2010   Jul 15 2010 - ACTRA Montreal is pleased to announce that Jay Baruchel is the 2010 recipient of ACTRA Montreal's Award of Excellence. The annual awards ceremony will take place in Montreal on September 11, 2010 at Place des Arts. Previous Award of Excellence winners include William Shatner, Vlasta Vrana, Walter Massey and Ranee Lee.     CANADA'S NEW COPYRIGHT BILL A BLOW TO ARTISTS "Half the Bill is missing"    Jun 2 2010 - Canadian performers are relieved to see the government finally take steps to bring Canada's copyright laws into the 21st Century but are alarmed that artists are being left out.     PERFORMERS PROTEST BROADCASTERS' L.A. SPENDING SPREE "Stop shipping our jobs south"    Jun 1 2010 - As Canadian private TV broadcasters unveil their fall schedules this week, performers rallied in Toronto today to demand more Canada on Canadian TV.     IF ONLY MINISTER CLEMENT SUPPORTED THE PRIVATE COPYING LEVY Levy easy solution to his 'illegal iPod'   May 27 2010 - Performers have a simple solution to Minister Clement's 'illegal' music collection - he can extend the private copying levy to MP3 players such as the iPod in the new copyright bill. The Minister confessed to the media yesterday that he has filled his iPod by copying CDs and sharing music with his family, activities which are illegal under Canada's antiquated copyright laws.     U.S. SPENDING BY CANADIAN BROADCASTERS SOARS TO RECORD HIGH Habitual cross-border spending ignores Canadian economy & artists   May 21 2010 - The CRTC just reported another record-breaking year for foreign program spending by Canadian broadcasters, and a 3.3% spending decrease on Canadian programs. Figures show that despite declining revenues, private broadcasters spent a record amount on U.S. and foreign shows in 2009 - 59% of all their programming expenses or $846.3 million.     CREATORS PUSH FOR COPYRIGHT REFORM   May 6 2010 - Canadian creators are urging the government to adopt copyright laws that support arts and culture in Canada. The Creators Copyright Coalition (CCC) is an alliance of 15 professional associations of individual creators and performers and copyright collective societies.     Poll shows wide opposition to foreign ownership of Canadian media   Apr 19 2010 - Most Canadians (68%) believe broadcasting and communications are too important to our national security and cultural sovereignty to allow foreign control of Canadian companies in these sectors, according to a new Harris/Decima survey conducted by telephone from March 31st to April 12th, 2010.     PERFORMERS AND MUSICIANS CHEER VOTE ON PRIVATE COPYING Parliament supports artists; Conservatives don't   Apr 15 2010 - AFM Canada, the Canadian representatives of the American Federation of Musicians, and ACTRA are cheering Parliament's approval of a motion calling for the extension of the private copying levy to digital music recorders. Conservatives stood alone in refusing to support artists as Liberal, Bloc and NDP MPs united behind Bloc MP Carole Lavallée's motion.     Harper failed to consider Canadian culture in Globalive decision   Apr 1 2010 - Ottawa - A coalition of leading cultural organizations announced this morning they are seeking intervenor status in an application to the Federal Court for judicial review of the federal government's decision to licence wireless telecom Globalive     CRTC BLOWS IT: New TV Policy won't help Canadian drama   Mar 22 2010 - The CRTC has blown its chance to put Canada back in prime time; instead it has given broadcasters a free pass. While ACTRA welcomes the return of Canadian spending requirements on conventional broadcasters, the new policy represents a 'status quo' on spending and a reduced commitment to overall Canadian programming. Most concerning is the lack of any requirements to air Canadian drama.     NEW NUMBERS PROVE BROADCASTERS NEED MORE RULES Performers anxiously await CRTC's new Television Policy on March 22   Mar 18 2010 - On the eve of new rules for Canadian broadcasting, figures released today prove the regulator needs to take steps to ensure that Canadians can see our own stories. The CRTC is set to release a new television policy this Monday, March 22 and performers are hopeful that the regulator will focus on getting more Canadian programming in primetime.     ACTRA, AFM CANADA URGE MPS TO SUPPORT PRIVATE COPYING BILL "Bill C-499 brings fairness for artists, legal certainty for music fans"   Mar 16 2010 - Canadian performers are urging all MPs to support a private member's bill which would expand the current private copying levy to ensure musicians are fairly paid for their work.     GOVERNMENT IGNORES FILM, TV & DIGITAL MEDIA JOBS Budget fails to build key "Jobs of the Future"   Mar 3 2010 - Toronto - Despite claiming to build "Jobs of the Future," the Harper Conservatives' budget ignores the economic potential of Canada's film, TV and digital media industry and in fact proposes selling Canadian jobs to foreign conglomerates.     SOME GOOD NEWS / MORE BAD NEWS IN THRONE SPEECH Increased foreign ownership threatens Canadian culture and future of Canadian broadcasting   Mar 3 2010 - Today's Speech from the Throne could have a major impact on Canadian arts and culture industry. Canadian performers applaud digital economy strategy but condemn foreign ownership threat.     ACTRA celebrates Shirley Douglas on International Women's Day   Mar 2 2010 - The National ACTRA Women's Committee celebrates Shirley Douglas in our spotlight for International Women's Day. "Shirley is a role model and an inspiration to women performers across the country," said Christine Willes, Chair of the ACTRA National Women's Committee.     MAKING CANADIAN FILMS AMERICAN NOT THE PATH TO SUCCESS We have to get over this national inferiority complex   Feb 22 2010 - Canadian stars are incensed to hear that once again, Telefilm Canada is considering using taxpayer's money to buy Hollywood talent. In a weekend CBC News report, Telefilm Chair Michel Roy said he is urging Heritage Canada to change the rules to allow more U.S. actors to take leading roles in government-supported feature films.     ACTRA ELECTS NEW NATIONAL EXECUTIVE   Feb 8 2010 - ACTRA's National Council has elected a new National Executive and Treasurer to join National President Ferne Downey and Vice President Tyrone Benskin to form ACTRA's elected leadership. The new team includes a mix of experience and new energy from across the country.     PERFORMERS PRESENT EUGENE LEVY WITH ACTRA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Special ceremony held at Canadian Consular Residence in Los Angeles   Jan 21 2010 - January 21 - ACTRA honoured Canadian star Eugene Levy with an ACTRA Award of Excellence on this afternoon at a reception at the Canadian Residence of David Fransen, Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles.     EUGENE LEVY TO RECEIVE ACTRA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Ceremony to be held January 21, 2010 in Los Angeles   Jan 14 2010 - ACTRA will honour Canadian star Eugene Levy with ACTRA National's Award of Excellence on January 21, 2010 at a special afternoon reception at the Canadian Residence of David Fransen, Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles.     Save the Levy!   Dec 22 2009 - Canada's private copying levy puts money directly into the pockets of Canadian creators. But as it currently stands, the levy only applies to outdated technologies and unless the government changes Canadian copyright law, the levy will soon become obsolete and the money will stop flowing. Help save the levy!     STRONG AUSTRALIAN REGS MEANS STRONG AUSTRALIAN TV CRTC can learn from OZ model   Dec 9 2009 - Australian performers working in Canada are surprised to see so little Canadian TV programs on Canadian TV broadcasters. "Looking at Canada's prime time TV schedules, I'm shocked at the dearth of Canadian TV programs. In Australia, government regulations - including a floor for drama - means most of the Top 20 TV programs are in fact Australian," said Simon Burke, President of Australia's Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA).     PERFORMERS CALL ON CRTC TO PUT MORE CANADA IN PRIME TIME "Don't let the broadcasters' and cables' slap-fest hijack the agenda"   Nov 25 2009 - Canadian performers appeared before the CRTC today to urge the regulator to focus on getting more Canadian programming in prime time as the regulator re-writes its TV policy. TV stars Wendy Crewson, Nicholas Campbell and ACTRA National President Ferne Downey called on the CRTC to make broadcasters meet their obligations under the Broadcasting Act by forcing them to invest more in Canadian drama and give it a place in their primetime schedules.     MPs MUST PASS EI BILL FOR SELF-EMPLOYED    Nov 24 2009 - Today at a House of Commons committee, Canadian performers urged MPs from all parties to support a bill which would extend special Employment Insurance (EI) benefits to self-employed workers.     HERITAGE MINISTER MUST STAND UP FOR CANADIAN TV   Nov 19 2009 - Canadian performers are urging Heritage Minister James Moore to stand up for Canadian TV, after the government hinted it's set to overrule upcoming CRTC decisions. "If the Heritage Minister is prepared to start telling the CRTC what to do, then we hope he'll stand up for the right of Canadians to access Canadian content on our airwaves and make sure we aren't being fleeced by big cable," said Ferne Downey, ACTRA National President.     ACTRA HOLDS DAY OF ACTION FOR CANADIAN PROGRAMMING "If the CRTC gets it wrong again our industry will be crushed"    Nov 16 2009 - Some of Canada's top TV stars marched en masse to Parliament Hill today to demand more Canada on Canadian TV. As the CRTC launches hearings on the future of TV broadcasting, performers across the country are calling on the regulator to put Canadian programming first by ending the free-ride for big cable and private broadcasters.     Canadian stars hold Day of Action for Canadian TV    Nov 12 2009 - OTTAWA - On Monday, November 16 Canadian stars will host a Day of Action for Canadian TV in the nation's capital with a morning press conference and afternoon rally to demand more Canadian programming on Canadian TV. Additional events will take part across the country.     OUR CANADIAN TV MATTERS   Oct 8 2009 - While broadcasters and cable companies fight it out over fee-for-carriage, performers are challenging them to commit to supporting Canadian programming, especially drama. "With cable bills on the rise, broadcasters threatening to close local stations, and less Canadian programming on TV, Canadians aren't getting what we're paying for," said Ferne Downey, ACTRA National President. "It's time to stop the cable rip-offs and get more Canada on Canadian TV."     ACTRA CALLS ON FEDERAL OPPOSITION TO SUPPORT  EXTENSION OF PARENTAL LEAVE TO SELF-EMPLOYED WORKERS   Oct 2 2009 - The union representing Canada's film and television performers is calling on all federal political parties to support the Conservative government's plan to introduce new rules extending parental leave benefits to self-employed Canadians.     ACTRA PRESENTS PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTHY BROADCASTING SYSTEM What use is a Canadian broadcasting system if it only brings us foreign content?   Sep 15 2009 - Canadian performers have provided the CRTC with a prescription to rejuvenate Canada's ailing broadcasting system. ACTRA's proposal would ensure that Canadians can see our own dramatic programming in prime time while making sure broadcasters and cable companies do their fair share to support the broadcasting system that serves them so well.     PERFORMERS PUSH FOR BALANCED COPYRIGHT LAWS Government Public Consultations End Sunday; Bill Expected this Fall   Sep 11 2009 - ACTRA is advocating for balanced made-in-Canada copyright laws in its comprehensive submission to the federal government's public consultations on copyright. "Canada needs fair copyright laws that ensure a balance between the interests of Canadian consumers and the rights of Canadian creators," said Ferne Downey, ACTRA's National President.