TORONTO – The Toronto chapter of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) has thrown its support behind the private member’s Bill 165 which would see artists recognized under Ontario’s Employment Standards Act.
The bill, which was introduced earlier this week by NDP MPP Peter Tabuns, seeks to extend the definition of ’employee’ to cover artists such as independent contractors, therefore ensuring that they would be covered by the Act’s provisions.
"ACTRA and other artists’ organizations have been calling for better employment rights for artists for years," said Heather Allin, president of ACTRA Toronto, in a statement. "Supporting creative industries takes more than bricks and mortar, it means supporting the creators as well. Passing this bill is an important step towards that goal."
ACTRA Toronto is the largest organization within ACTRA, representing over 15,000 of Canada’s professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada.
