TORONTO, ON (August 30, 2018) — ACTRA says today’s CRTC’s new conditions on license renewals of broadcasters is a win for Canadians who want to see Canadian stories. In a new decision released today, the CRTC has reversed last year’s decision to decrease the required amount broadcasters must spend on Canadian Programs of National Interest (PNI).

“Last year’s decision would have had a devastating effect on the thousands of Canadians employed in the television production sector,” said ACTRA National Executive Director Stephen Waddell. “It was inspiring to see thousands of Canadians come forward and fight for Canadian stories on our screens. Their efforts have been rewarded today.”

Last year’s CRTC’s decision to decrease the amount that Bell Media, Rogers Media and Corus Entertainment are required to spend on Canadian Programs of National Interest (PNI) would have had a severe negative impact on the production of Canadian television dramas, comedies, children’s programming, long-form documentaries, variety and performing arts shows, and on the health and productivity of the film and television sector as a whole. The Liberal Government sent the decision back to the CRTC for reconsideration following petitions filed by Canadian producers, creators and performers, and letter and petitions from thousands of citizens deeply concerned with the potentially devastating impacts of the decision.

While ACTRA is pleased that the earlier decision has been reversed, Waddell cautioned that Canadian programming still faces real challenges, “In our initial submission, ACTRA had asked for an increase in PNI spending – to ensure that Canadian programming was seeing the investment needed during the digital shift. ACTRA knows there’s much more to do to ensure a future for Canada’s film and television industry in a digital era.”

ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national union of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of over 25,000 members across the country – the foundation of Canada’s highly acclaimed professional performing community.

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Media contact: Jennifer McGibbon, Public Relations Officer, 604-689-1165 jmcgibbon@actra.ca