During a campaign stop at the Martini Town backlot in Aldergrove on Saturday, Sept 28, NDP Leader David Eby said his government, if re-elected, would raise the Production Services Tax Credit to 36 per cent from 28 per cent, to boost employment for B.C. film workers.
"What that means in real terms for British Columbians, is it means 7,000 more jobs in the industry," Eby said.
"An industry that already contributes billions of dollars to our GDP, employs tens of thousands of people, both directly and indirectly, and supports people right across the province."
NDP Leader David Eby promised an increase in the Production Services Tax Credit and Film Incentive BC refund to 36 percent to hire more BC film workers during a campaign stop at the Martini Town backlot in Aldergrove Saturday.
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Eby also said an NDP government would press Ottawa to do more to help production in B.C., saying the Canada Media Fund uses broadcast fees it generates from British Columbians to subsidize productions in other provinces.
Even though the B.C. and Ontario industries are roughly equal in size, the fund heavily favours eastern producers, contributing to 18,000 jobs in Ontario and less than 4,000 in British Columbia, Eby estimated.
Speaking at the Martini Town announcement, Crystal Braunwarth, speaking for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) business representative, said the tax break comes at a "critical point" for the industry, which has experienced a global production slowdown, back-to-back strikes and an increasingly competitive global marketplace.
"I hear from members every day," Braunwarth said.
"I hear the heartbreak in their voice as the uncertainty of their careers looms over them."
Braunwarth said the tax break would make B.C. "competitive again on the global stage."
"What I know it will do for the 60,000 motion picture workers in BC 鈥� is change lives," Braunwarth continued.
"Every tax incentive dollar paid out is because of a job that is directly connected to the heartbeat of a worker and their ability to earn a living, contribute to our economy, and continue to power our $4 billion industry. We needed this lift to continue to get things done."
Several NDP candidates were on hand for the announcement, including Vancouver-False Creek MLA Brenda Bailey, Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Bob D'Eith, incumbent 91原创 MLAs Megan Dyckman (91原创-Walnut Grove) and Andrew Mercier (91原创-Willowbrook) with John Aldag, who is running in 91原创-Abbotsford.
