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Canadian Screenwriters and Producers Reach New Agreement
October 27, 2009, Toronto –The Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) struck a new deal for Canadian screenwriters with the Canadian Film & Television Production Association (CFTPA) and the Quebec Film and Television Producers Association (APFTQ). The WGC’s Independent Production Agreement (IPA), which governs English-language screenwriting in Canada, was set to expire on December 31, 2009. When ratified, the new collective agreement will take effect January 1, 2010, and set the terms of engagement until December 31, 2011.
The new agreement includes a 2% increase across the board to the minimum script fee – the upfront fee paid to a writer on delivery of the script – in each of the two years of the agreement.
At the WGC’s request, the parties had a significant and engaging discussion about current fees and conditions for screenwriters working in animation. A working group of producers and screenwriters was established to meet regularly over the next two years to continue the dialogue.
All parties to the deal – the WGC, CFTPA and APFTQ – are pleased with the new agreement. The three industry groups arrived at the bargaining table with a short list of issues, recognizing the current instability and uncertainty in the industry, and seeking a workable deal. The next year will see all three associations involved in a significant reshaping of the production and regulatory landscape, with a new Canada Media Fund coming into play, CRTC hearings on TV policy, fee for carriage and station-group licence renewals, terms of trade negotiations and more.
"The CFTPA believes this deal is a fair one and will bring added stability to the production sector as we enter a period of unprecedented transition," says John Barrack, National Executive Vice-President and Counsel, CFTPA.
Julie Patry, Director of Industrial Relations, APFTQ, said “we are happy that we could reach a deal so rapidly and we believe that it will contribute to maintain the good industrial climate all parties are looking for.”
Rebecca Schechter, President, WGC, said that, “in this economic climate, a script fee increase is good news for screenwriters, and these increases will be especially beneficial for writers working in development. We tailored these negotiations to the times, and all parties set aside larger issues in the interests of a unified creative community. The shorter contract term reflects our optimism that conditions will improve when the regulatory upheaval subsides.”
The deal was ratified by the CFTPA board and the board and general assembly of the APFTQ on October 23, 2009, and will be presented to WGC members for ratification.
The CFTPA is a non-profit trade organization that works on behalf of almost 400 companies engaged in the production and distribution of English-language television programs, feature films, and interactive media products in all regions of Canada.
The APFTQ represents more than 130 independent film and television production companies in Quebec. These corporations are specialized in feature film, advertising film and any genre of TV production (animation, drama, documentary, variety). The Association negotiates all collective agreements with artists and technicians associations and acts on behalf of its members with government and industry organizations.
The Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) represents 2,000 professional screenwriters working in English across Canada. These are the talented people who create the distinctly Canadian entertainment we enjoy on our televisions, movie screens, radios and computers.
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For further information please call:
Anne Trueman
Director of Communications and Media
Canadian Film and Television Production Association
Tel: 613 233 1444 ext 227
E-Mail: anne.trueman@cftpa.ca
Céline Pelletier
Directrice des communications
Association des producteurs de films et de télévision du Québec
Tél: 514 397-8600 poste 228
Courriel: cpelletier@apftq.qc.ca
David Kinahan
Director of Communications
Writers Guild of Canada
416-979-7907
d.kinahan@wgc.ca