Liberals increase N.S. film fund by $1.5 million

In a surprise announcement, the government of Nova Scotia says it will increase the film incentive fund by $1.5 million for 2016-17.

The move brings the total amount available for local film productions to $11.5 million. Increasing demand on the film fund prompted the extra funding according to a government news release.

READ MORE: NS film incentive fund cap has some flexibility, government says

“We value our film industry and we want it to be successful and stable,” Business Minister Mark Furey said in the emailed statement.

Screen Nova Scotia, which has been calling for an increase in the fund since it was created in 2015, says it’s celebrating the announcement.

“This decision is good news,” Screen Nova Scotia executive director Erika Beatty said in an emailed statement.

“This $1.5 million, along with the other positive changes we’re continuing to work on with government, allows an increase of at least $6 million in jobs and production spending throughout the province this year.”

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Friday’s announcement comes after months of calls from the industry to increase the film fund and change some of the rules around how to access it. The industry was expecting changes to be announced more than two months ago.

That delay prompted a major film and TV union in Halifax to accuse the premier’s office of scuttling a deal between Screen Nova Scotia and Furey.

At the time, the industry said it had a deal with Furey to make changes to the widely criticized film fund, which the Liberals introduced after axing the more lucrative film tax credit.

Premier Stephen McNeil denied any involvement in cancelling a deal, saying at the time there was no deal to cancel.

The film fund covers between 25 and 32 per cent of eligible production costs such as labour and goods and services purchased in Nova Scotia.