TORONTO – The Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) issued a strongly-worded letter
Thursday, calling upon Canadian Heritage Minister Josée Verner to revoke part of an
omnibus bill now before the Senate that would only allow tax credit support for a film or
television production if the production is not “contrary to public policy”.
“This provision is open to such a wide array of interpretations that it would have a
dampening effect on artistic expression and, of equal if not greater importance, would
discourage investment in an already under-resourced Canadian Film and television
production sector,” said Brian Anthony, the Guild’s National Executive Director and
CEO in his letter to the Minister.
“We feel there are sufficient checks and balances at the disposal of the federal
government, such as the Criminal Code, to ensure that its resources are appropriately
invested,” he said.
The omnibus bill C-10, currently at third reading stage in the Senate, would amend the
Income Tax Act in such a way as to only provide tax credit support to a film or television
production if such “…public financial support of the production would not be contrary to
public policy.”
Canadian film and television productions may receive a film or video production
certificate issued by the Minister if they meet certain Canadian content criteria, and tax
credits are then granted to qualifying productions.
Anthony called this additional provision “ill advised and ill-conceived”, and said the
amendment in question not only opens the door to potential abuse but sets a dangerous
precedent for amending the funding criteria of other cultural agencies and programs in
the Canadian Heritage portfolio.
Anthony said the Minister must reconsider and revoke the measure.
www.dgc.ca
