OTTAWA – The Federal government today reconfirmed funding for the Canadian Television Fund, the Canadian New Media Fund and committed to $225 million in new spending to bring broadband connectivity to unserved communities.
The initiatives, tiny among the billions being spent in total, were all a part of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s 2009 budget announced today in Ottawa.
“The Government is committed to closing the broadband gap in Canada by encouraging the private development of rural broadband infrastructure. Budget 2009 provides $225 million over three years to Industry Canada to develop and implement a strategy on extending broadband coverage to all currently unserved communities beginning in 2009–10,” reads the budget.
“Recognizing the importance of the production and broadcasting of high-quality, distinctively Canadian television programs, Budget 2009 provides the Canadian Television Fund with $200 million in funding over the next two years,” says the document
Reaction was positive from TV producers and the CTF itself.
"The CTF is the single most important initiative that supports distinctively Canadian television shows," said Guy Mayson, president and CEO of the Canadian Film and Television Producers Association, in a press release.
The CFTPA release also lauded the government for maintaining funding of the Canadian New Media Fund where funding of $28.6 million over the next two years, and $14.3 million annually thereafter, was confirmed. The CNMF is a national program that supports the creation and distribution of interactive digital cultural content products.
Other longer-term stimulus measures for the independent production sector were presented to MPs and government officials during the pre-budget consultations, but nor adopted in the budget.
The CFTPA asked for a 10 point increase in the rate of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and a 4 point increase in the rate of the Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit. The CFTPA also outlined an international growth strategy for the independent sector through a new, more flexible co-production policy as well as the creation of production and marketing funds for co-productions.
"We know there is much more work to be done for our sector to realize our full potential as leading contributors to the creative economy," said CFTPA chair Sandra Cunningham. "Producers have developed a solid strategy to foster improved competitiveness and growth of the independent production sector as key employers in television, feature film, and interactive media."
ACTRA, the actors union, was less effusive in its praise. "We’re relieved to see signs that the Conservative government is taking the cultural sector more seriously. However, we are disappointed that they passed on the opportunity to maximize the potential of the film and TV industry to stimulate the economy," said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA’s national executive director.
ACTRA had presented a number of ideas in the pre-budget process, such as taxing ISPs in order to establish another fund for new media producers and increasing the value of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CFVPTC) and the Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC).
– Greg O’Brien
