Happy St. Patrick's Day

I have decided to celebrate St. Paddy's Day by chasing some snakes and protesting Bill C-10 which threatens to bring down what's left of the Canadian film industry:

Senate Commerce, Banking and Trade Committee

banking_banques@sen.parl.gc.ca

Standing Committee Members

Angus, W. David Chair - C - (Alma - Quebec)Goldstein, Yoine Deputy Chair - Lib. - (Rigaud - Quebec)Biron, Michel - Lib. - (Mille Isles - Quebec)Eyton, John Trevor - C - (Ontario)Harb, Mac - Lib. - (Ontario)Jaffer, Mobina S.B. - Lib. - (British Columbia)Massicotte, Paul J. - Lib. - (De Lanaudière - Quebec)Meighen, Michael A. - C - (St. Marys - Ontario)Moore, Wilfred P. - Lib. - (Stanhope St. / South Shore - Nova Scotia)Ringuette, Pierrette - Lib. - (New Brunswick)Tkachuk, David - C - (Saskatchewan)


re: Bill C-10 and the Canadian Film Industry

I must protest the provision that would allow the Heritage Minister to withhold tax credits if a production was considered 'contrary to public policy'.

This is expected to spook the banks. They will have one more reason to shrink from a proposed project, wondering: will this final film meet the approval of the Heritage Minister and whatever panel is to be named later?

It is difficult enough to finance a film in Canada without having to be humbled and handicapped by completely unnecessary new legislation.

Far from whatever it means to uphold “public policy,” most movies are about some form of dissent or mischief, as is the case in theatre and literature. Any objection an individual or lobby group angling to include such a provision might have to successful films like Bob Clark’s comedy “Porky’s” or Ivan Reitman’s summer camp flick “Meatballs” or Sarah Polly’s “Away From Her,” that opinion has no relation to the marketability of the product nor its presumed ill effects upon the population or the reputation of Canada, which to date still remains cutting edge.

I am a filmmaker and I have benefited from some support from the Ontario Arts Council
and from student grants as have many of my peers. This has been for the sole purpose of
contributing to the Canadian film industry, and the reasonable fear of Bill C-10 is that it will prevent a return on that investment in human resources. Film and Television is just one industry among others that receive tax credits. It’s nothing fancy about arts funding.

Please stop Bill C-10. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Pope Will