TORONTO – The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) Toronto praised Thursday’s Ontario budget for pledging this year to introduce a tax deferral system for the province’s artists and housing support for aging artists.
The measures are referred to as Status of the Artist legislation. The tax deferral system would allow artists to spread their income over several years.
“We’re hopeful that this signal by Dalton McGuinty’s government that they will be introducing Status of the Artist legislation will actually happen and that it will contain the real progress for artists we’ve been seeking,” said ACTRA Toronto Performers president Karl Pruner.
ACTRA members and other artists have been pressing the Ontario government over the past year to come through with the legislation.
“This promise that a law will be introduced is several years overdue. Now we need to make sure these aren’t hollow words,” added Pruner.
The budget also included additional money for the Ontario Media Development Corp.
