Figures suggest NS film industry workers earning, working less

A new report says people in the Nova Scotia film industry are working fewer days and making far less money since the provincial government eliminated a controversial tax credit.

The Atlantic council of the Directors Guild of Canada says employment statistics show a sharp reduction in salaries and total days worked by its Nova Scotia members last year.

It found that members made $5.9 million in salaries in 2014, compared to $3.1 million last year.

Members also saw the number of days they worked drop to 6,500 last year from 12,000 days the year before.

The group is linking the decline to the elimination of the Film and Television Labour Tax Credit last April, which it claims has made the province uncompetitive compared to other production centres in Canada and around the world.

“Before April 9 last year, Nova Scotia was punching way above its weight level in terms of attracting productions, making first class television and films that are seen all over the world. That isn’t happening anymore,” said DGC Atlantic Chair Jennfer Stewart.

“Optimism doesn’t put food on people’s table, it doesn’t create work. We need the program to change so it can get the productions going again and get our members back to work.”

The guild says an incentive fund that replaced the tax credit is too intricate and has not stemmed the loss of film work in the province.

Finance Minister Randy Delorey defended the Film and Television Labour Tax Credit after his pre-budget speech in Halifax Wednesday.

“We’ve worked with the industry… establishing a fund to provide that service and support for the industry,” said Delorey.

“I think when we see the budget, we’ll see how much we spent as a province supporting the film industry in 2015-16… and I think it’ll be clear to all Nova Scotians the extent to which we’ve supported that industry.”