The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) and the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) on Tuesday announced the ratification of a new three-year CMPA-DGC Standard Agreement.
Taking effect on Jan. 1, the 2026-2028 CMPA-DGC Standard Agreement establishes the terms, conditions and rates for directors and other professional crew members working in film, television and digital media productions in Canada, excluding B.C. and Quebec.
“We are very pleased to have reached a fair, secure, and mutually beneficial agreement with the CMPA for the 3,700+ DGC Members in Ontario,” said Victoria Harding, executive director of DGC Ontario and Ontario’s lead negotiator, in a statement. “Within the landscape of a globally fluctuating production industry, this agreement contains improvements that will benefit Members now and in the years ahead, laying the groundwork for increased stability in an unstable time. We are proud that this agreement will allow our Members to keep doing what they do best — elevating the global status of our workforce while ensuring their rights are protected and their contributions valued.”
“This agreement ensures the stability and growth for all DGC Members, particularly in a time of immense change and transformation in the industry,” added Catherine Middleton, the DGC’s interim national executive director and co-lead negotiator. “We are proud of this contract and the important gains for our Membership. We look forward to working closely with CMPA Producers to foster new opportunities for our Members to continue telling our stories.”
“The industry continues to navigate an ever-evolving media landscape, and this agreement, demonstrating the ongoing strong partnership between producers, directors, and crew, provides much-needed stability and clarity for the future,” said Sean Porter, the CMPA’s vice president of national industrial relations and counsel. “I thank the individuals on both sides of the table for their dedication to reaching a fair agreement that serves to strengthen the sector and bring more Canadian stories to audiences at home and around the world.”
The two organizations reached an agreement in principle in November following constructive negotiations, the CMPA said in a press release. The new Standard Agreement will apply to productions commencing principal photography on or after Jan. 1, 2026. The agreement expires on Dec. 31, 2028.
