Sign the petition to Reinstate the Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit Program, HERE.

This is an issue that is actually quite simple.

Contrary to what many may think, The Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit Program (or SFETC) is not a grant program designed to support the arts. It’s an industry tax credit designed to generate jobs and economic activity (artistic value is an added bonus). Film tax credits are very good at doing this. Here’s a statement from the Brad Wall Government issued in 2010:

“For an annual provincial investment of $6.5M, $37.5M in SFETC production volume is generated including $23.5M in direct Saskatchewan spending. This brings $17M each year into the provincial economy that would not come without the industry being active and competitive enough to access these funds.”

The Full report is available HERE. (opens as a pdf)

Until now, production companies that pay SK citizens to work on their film and television shows are eligible to receive a tax credit. The vast majority of places offer film tax credits. Many other industries receive tax credits in various forms. Now, productions from outside the province will likely choose to to film elsewhere and will not hire local SK-based production companies or local crews. If any production companies are able to survive in this new reality, they will be forced to move any projects that developed in the province to Manitoba or elsewhere. This means that you lose those who generate creative capital in the province in addition to highly skilled workers. This is the end of the film industry in Saskatchewan.

But what does that mean? Film and Television is a very popular career and a very tough career. Losing the industry means losing jobs in the province and losing a cultural sector. Creative workers in Saskatchewan didn’t come to the province to take advantage of booming arts sectors. They are there because they love the place. They’re trying to grow a cultural industry and enrich the culture of its citizens. Killing the tax credit kills the industry. This sends a message to the creative community that there is little hope to achieve their career goals in Saskatchewan.

The credit doesn’t raise taxes and generates economic growth. It’s simple. Reinstate it.

More from Brent Butt (video), HERE.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

We love making films in Saskatchewan. Our two major projects were filmed there. We have intentions of making more projects there in the future. But, it would be ludicrous to plan a production in SK when tax credits are available elsewhere. This policy mistake by the Saskatchewan government deeply affects our family and our future plans. We strongly urge our friends and family to sign this petition and urge others to do likewise.

Sign the petition to Reinstate the Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit Program, HERE.