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As the trade association representing the interests of content providers in the Canadian film and television production industry the CFTPA is involved in everything from content regulations to trade and copyright. Below are some of our positions on issues currently facing our industry

Canadian Content

Canadian content requirements as laid out by the CRTC are the backbone of our broadcasting system. With 80% of Canadian households receiving dozens of American channels, the CFTPA believes Canadian-made programming would be virtually non-existent if the CRTC did not stipulate 60% of all content must be Canadian. The association regrets the CRTC’s 1999 decision that eliminated the expenditure requirements for Canadian programming by broadcasters, however, the CRTC’s Cancon requirements have helped build audiences for Canadian-made programs. The wage-based tax credit, which uses the CAVCO point system for hiring Canadian talent, is also an effective tool for supporting our indigenous production industry. Canadian Heritage is currently reviewing its definition of Canadian content for film and television production. The CFTPA believes the current definition allows the government to achieve its economic and cultural objectives.

"Runaway Production"

There have been increasing concerns by labour interest groups in the U.S., particularly California, over the increase of foreign location shooting in Canada and abroad. Service productions have been mislabeled as “runaways” because they believe American films and jobs should stay in the U.S. Service productions are filmed in Canada for a variety of reasons: from the quality of crews, the low dollar, and wage-based tax incentives, to creative reasons such as our spectacular locations. The production business is a competitive, global industry, and increasingly countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa are enticing productions to their shores. In 2001/2002 Canada had just under CDN$1.8 billion in revenue from foreign location shooting. The American film industry brings in over US$30 billion a year, and at least 40% of the revenues for U.S. studio movies are generated from foreign sales. If American studios make money overseas why shouldn’t they be able to shoot outside the U.S.?

Contact

Anne Trueman
Director of Communications & Media

Ext. 227