OTTAWA – Canada’s TV producers hope the resumption of preliminary talks between the CBC and the Canadian Media Guild this week means an end to the lockout is around the corner.
“CBC is a very important window for Canadian independent production and a major supporter of Canadian drama," says Ira Levy, chair of the Canadian Film and Television Production Association. "We are concerned that if the lockout continues, schedules will be severely disrupted and any new productions could be delayed or possibly cancelled.”
The CBC announced on Thursday that its fall TV schedule, which was to debut on Sept. 7, is being postponed due to the labour disruption.
“A strong Canadian public broadcaster is essential to building audience for Canadian television programs. A timely resolution to this situation can prevent lost revenues and lost jobs in our sector,” Levy says.
The CFTPA is wading in to the main sticking point in the labour dispute: the CBC’s plan to contract out more work. The association says it allows for greater workforce flexibility.
“Like broadcasting, independent production is a very competitive business," says Guy Mayson, CFTPA president and CEO. "Independent producers are very familiar with the balance needed to succeed. Almost all the creative and technical talent employed by producers is done under short-term contracts with guilds and unions. This provides high-quality production with a minimum of ongoing overhead costs. It is also one of the reasons that Canada is recognized as having such a rich base of experienced and sought-after personnel."
The two sides in the dispute continued their discussions on Friday.
