A recent news release has pointed out that film and television producers are unsatisfied with the current agreement with the Alliance of Canadian Cinema Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), the union that represents Canadian film, TV and radio performers, and this is forcing our actors to go on strike.

In Canada, the federal and provincial governments have numerous programmes, incentives and tax credits dedicated to promoting film production in this country; and although there is much production going on in Canada, they are not necessarily this country’s productions. These tax incentives have mostly been a boon to large Hollywood studios who move north to take advantage of Canada’s scenic shooting locations, trained workforce and large body of talented performers, and most recently, our incredibly developed capital infrastructure for film production. Though these big American pictures are perhaps not what Canadian artists would produce could they have their way, we do benefit indirectly through the economic trickle-down effect which produces jobs, contracts for small businesses, and a variety of small spin-off industries.