March 31, 2016
TOTAL DAYS WORKED AND GROSS SALARIES PAID TO NOVA SCOTIA DGC MEMBERS IN 2015 SHOW AN ALMOST 50% REDUCTION
HALIFAX - Total days worked and gross salaries paid to Nova Scotia DGC members in 2015 show a reduction of almost 50%.
The Atlantic Regional Council of the Directors Guild of Canada today released employment statistics for their membership for 2014 and 2015. The numbers show a dramatic reduction in gross salaries paid and total days worked by Nova Scotia members of the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC). DGC attributes the decline to the elimination in April of 2015 of the Film & Television Labour Tax Credit.
The labour tax credit was replaced by the Film & Television Production Incentive Fund in July 2015, but the intricacies of the new fund have made financing projects in Nova Scotia very difficult. As a result, the province is currently uncompetitive with other production jurisdictions in Canada and around the world.
In 2014, gross salaries paid to Nova Scotia members of the DGC totalled $5.9 million dollars, and members worked over 12,000 days. In 2015, by stark contrast, gross salaries paid to Nova Scotia members of the DGC only totalled $3.1 million dollars, and members worked just 6,500 days. These figures represent an almost 50% drop in film and television business in just one year.
“This reduction in days worked and gross salaries paid to our members reflects how ineffective the new Production Incentive Fund has been in attracting productions to Nova Scotia. Local producers are having great difficulty securing investment funding. Meanwhile, every other jurisdiction in Canada is experiencing record production levels.” says DGC Atlantic Chair Jennifer Stewart.
On February 25, 2016 representatives from Screen Nova Scotia met with the Nova Scotia Minister of Business Mark Furey and other government representatives to propose changes to the new Incentive program that could get productions rolling again and see Nova Scotia crews get back to work.
“One devastating side-effect of the reduction in production in Nova Scotia in 2015 is that many of our experienced crew have left the province in search of work.” says Stewart. “Some people were able to pick up term contracts outside of the province in order to pay bills, but they are anxious to return and get back to work in Nova Scotia.”
Screen Nova Scotia is anticipating a government response to their recently-tabled proposals later this week.
The Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) is a national labour organization that represents more than 3,800 key creative and logistical personnel in the screen-based industry. In Nova Scotia, DGC represents directors, editors, production designers, art department staff, assistant directors, location managers, and production staff.
For more information contact:
James B. Nicholson
Business Agent
Directors Guild of Canada
Atlantic Regional Council
(p): 902-492-3424
