Toronto, ON (March 20, 2019) — Yesterday’s federal budget announcement was an opportunity to invest further in Canadian recorded media creators, as has been done in recent federal budgets. ACTRA and ACTRA Recording Artists’ Collecting Society (RACS) were pleased to see the $20 million provision over two years for the Canada Music Fund, as well as other arts and culture budget measures, but were disappointed Canada’s screen-based industries were overlooked.
“Despite citing our cultural industries as a key contributor to our economy, there was no new investment in our screen industries,” said ACTRA National President David Sparrow. “Budget 2019 was an important opportunity to continue the investment in our screen-based industry, specifically Canadian content production, to ensure it will continue to grow, and bring more jobs, wealth, prosperity and investment to Canadians.”
“Canada’s funding programs need to evolve in response to the technological changes in the content industry. This is essential if Canadians are to receive the maximum benefit from these investments,” said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA National Executive Director. “While previous federal budgets took steps to stabilize funding for the Canada Media Fund, Telefilm Canada still requires additional budgetary support to better position the agency to effectively carry out its mandate and reinforce strategic priorities related to gender parity, diversity and Indigenous filmmaking.”
ACTRA applauds Canadian Heritage’s efforts to integrate Gender-based Analysis plus (GBA+) in program design and is pleased Budget 2019 will provide $1.0 million over two years, starting in 2019–20, to improve the collection of disaggregated data and strengthen reporting requirements to better support gender equality and diversity in funding allocations.
About ACTRA:
ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national union of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of over 25,000 members across the country – the foundation of Canada’s highly acclaimed professional performing community.
About ACTRA RACS:
ACTRA RACS (Recording Artists’ Collecting Society) is a not-for-profit performer collective, dedicated to ensuring that all recording artists, from session musicians and background performers to featured vocalists, are paid for the use of their work.
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Media Contact:
Carol Taverner, Public Relations Officer, ACTRA National, tel: 416.644.1519, ctaverner@actra.ca