OTTAWA – The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) wants the federal government to make support for Canada’s $85 billion cultural industries a key issue in the upcoming federal election.
ACTRA national president Ferne Downey, accompanied by Canadian performers Tantoo Cardinal, Benjamin Ayres, Tristan D. Lalla, Angelica Lisk-Hann, Mark McKinney, Peter MacNeill, Julian Richings, Adamo Ruggiero, Salvatore Antonio and Jamie Spilchuk, will be in Ottawa Wednesday asking all MPs and federal parties to support the call for ‘More Canada on ALL Our Screens – big, small and mobile'.
The national union said its wish-list for this lobby trip includes long-term, stable investments in the CMF, Telefilm, the NFB and support for the production of great Canadian scripted drama by the CBC; nurture Canadian cultural sector jobs – support stories by, for, and about Canadians; and initiate fair treatment for Canadian artists by implementing equitable tax treatment.
“We’re meeting with MPs to share our priorities for the next government,” said Downey, in the news release. “We’ll be asking them to put culture and content creation on their election agenda. This industry is a vital part of our everyday life as Canadians, and it plays an increasingly important role in our nation’s economic well-being, representing 7.4% of our GDP.”
