Like a lot of political issues we write about in Canada (health care), provinces have a lot of control. Canada is used a lot for shooting films and TV shows, many of them not Canadian. Outside of Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec, provinces have to battle against each other to keep their film industries viable to outside filmmakers.
Let's look at recent efforts in Manitoba and Alberta. Both governments are run by conservative parties: Progressive Conservative in Manitoba and United Conservative in Alberta.
Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Cathy Cox is building on an existing 30% tax credit that refunds companies on their total project costs. Cox says there will be an 8% credit for projects that use Manitoba-based production firms. Filming is an issue but so is editing and post-production positions.
The Manitoba tax credit was scheduled to expire at the end of 2019 but the Pallister Government has made the tax credit permanent.
In Alberta, the Alberta’s new tax incentive program is running into issues and criticism. The province is committing only $22 million in 2020-21, $30 million in 2021-22 and $45 million in 2022-23. The small production grant fund program will be limited to $1 million/year. Alberta had caps on the Alberta Film and Television Tax Credit, unlike other provinces.
Alberta had a credit where 30% of eligible expenses would be reimbursed. The new Alberta budget reduced that mark to 22%.
Anecdotally, the TV series Fargo left Calgary to film on the very north side of Chicago for Season 4.
Canadian film review: Maudie
Canadian film review: The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom
Nova Scotia threatens to gut tax credit that helps film and TV industries
CanadianCrossing.com film reviews
CanadianCrossing.com film coverage
Nova Scotia lost business after restructuring its film and TV tax credit. The idea of a true Nova Scotia story such as Maudie being filmed in Newfoundland is truly insulting.
Even if the relatively smaller provinces keep churning with tax credits, they might lose business to other provinces. If they don't compete, they will lose business to other provinces.
Given Alberta's financial woes, they would welcome more film and TV business into the province. This characterizes the "if it's not oil and gas, it doesn't count" mentality of the Kenney Government.
Before you make this about Brian Pallister or Jason Kenney, know that Nova Scotia's premier at the time (and still premier) is Stephen McNeil, a Liberal.
NFL in Winnipeg with no starters and an 80-yard field
Governments and small businesses make money even with the film and TV tax credits. People can point to scenes and know they were filmed in Canada, even if some of those filmmakers try to hide Canada as much as possible. Filmmakers like coming to Canada. If you think they care about the nuance of Alberta vs. Manitoba, remember the Oakland Raiders punter who bought a shirt last summer that said "Winnipeg, Alberta" without a speck of irony.
photo credit: The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom film
video credit: YouTube/metropole films
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