TORONTO – Members of the Canadian creative industry members will shadow MPs and potential MPs this fall, asking federal election candidates to answer questions on the future of Canada’s $9 billion market in screen-based production.
Cast, crew and creators are banding together for what is being called the “Just Ask” campaign (“Je m’implique” in French), where three groups are calling on its members to pledge to attend at least one election-related event this fall and ask at least one question on key issues facing the industry.
The campaign includes the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
The micro-websites justask2019.ca and jemimplique2019.ca went live today, allowing members in 338 ridings to sign up for the campaign.
The site will feature election backgrounders and sample questions on the top issues for the industry, says the press release this morning. Participants will fan out this fall using the hashtags #justask2019 and #jemimplique2019 to spread the word on answers they get from candidates.
The top question on the sites encourage members to ask candidates if they’ll “support both legislation and regulation requiring all players that benefit from the Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications systems to invest in the creation of original Canadian programming.”
(Ed note: According to Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, he’s already on record supporting just that.)
Other top topics include funding and tax credits for arts & culture, protections for precarious workers, copyright protection, public broadcasting and promoting diversity, inclusion and respectful workplaces in the cultural sector.
