By Ahmad Hathout
TORONTO – The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted business operations far and wide, including TV and film producers in Canada, who are calling for the federal government to pledge a financial aid package for the industry.
Boat Rocker Media has jumped out ahead as the first TV producer this week to register its intention to ask the federal and Ontario governments for financial support to continue to create, produce and distribute its content. The Toronto-based company’s subsidiary Temple Street has produced the popular show Orphan Black and its kids content has been enlisted in CBS All Access’s roster. Insight Productions (which produces the recently shuttered Big Brother Canada) and Proper Television are also Boat Rocker brands.
A lobbyist for Boat Rocker told Cartt.ca said he could not speak about how much Boat Rocker was asking for and said he passed inquiries to the company, which has not returned a request for details.
The overall damage wrought on the film and TV industry by the spread of the virus, which has upended businesses through people distancing, is yet unclear. Last week, the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) announced that a number of key stakeholders in the industry have formed a taskforce to assess the impact on the industry and inform all levels of government of the need for support. Working alongside Nordicity, the CMPA yesterday published a survey for industry participants to gauge that need, with a deadline of March 31.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government is preparing an aid package for journalists to continue covering the spread of the virus, with details coming through Canadian Heritage later. The feds introduced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit program on Wednesday, which will provide $2,000 a month for up to four months for workers who have lost their income as a result of the virus.
The government also announced the members of the panel that will administer the $595 million in previously-announced tax credits, as well as pledge to buy public health ads for Canadian media. Advocacy group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting said in a press release Wednesday that the measures are “too little and may come too late” and lamented that it still excludes broadcasters, despite the general sentiment that the government is “paying attention to the crisis facing our journalistic organizations.”
