March 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.

“If the government was truly committed to building ‘the jobs and industries of the future’ they would see the clear wisdom of investment in Canada’s film, TV and digital media industry – a key component of our burgeoning creative economy. The Conservatives’ pledge to develop a national digital economy strategy rings hollow if they fail to harness the enormous potential of this extremely lucrative and efficient industry,” said Ferne Downey, ACTRA National President.

ACTRA had presented a number of concrete job-creation ideas in the pre-budget process, including:

• provide long-term, increased investment in the Canadian Television Fund, Telefilm Canada, the CBC and the National Film Board and instruct the CRTC to establish a fund for new media productions based on a levy of Internet Service Providers;
• increase the value of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CFVPTC) and the Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC); and
• re-introduce a system of income averaging for tax purposes over a five-year period as a method of providing fair and equitable tax treatment for self-employed Canadians.

“The government missed a prime opportunity to capitalize on the potential of the film, TV and digital media industry – which alone generates $5 billion to the Canadian economy and creates over 130,000 good jobs. Furthermore, their plan to sell off our telecommunications sector to foreign conglomerates could result in loss of Canadian jobs and threatens Canadian culture,” said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA National Executive Director.

ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national organization of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 21,000 members across Canada – the foundation of Canada’s highly acclaimed professional performing community.

Media Contacts:

Carol Taverner, Public Relations Officer, ACTRA, (416) 644-1519, ctaverner@actra.ca