We're live with @IATSE members to call on the government to revamp its support of the film and TV industry. #ableg
ACTRA members are also with us.
We're in a 38,000 square foot production facility that's current empty. But it doesn't have to be that way. All the ingredients for success are here in Alberta. Except a government that understands the needs of the industry.
Albertans understand that diversification is vital. That's where the screen industry can help. Good quality jobs can be built right here in Alberta.
A labour based tax incentive model creates jobs in TV and film in other jurisdictions. Alberta has this model, but they're thinking too small.
67% less in incentives for television and film than the previous government.
And the cap for each fiscal year means the support will be exhausted very quickly and big-budget productions will likely not even consider Alberta.
Without quick action to address television and film incentives, the government risks losing Alberta's professional workforce.
Demand for TV and film productions for online streaming services has never been higher.
Trevor has worked on many tv and film productions. He says the industry needs certainty in order to grow. "We're talking and growth and diversification. Other places are on fire right now to feed the industry's need for streaming content."
"As a designer on Heartland, I can tell you that tourism spinoff is a real big thing."
The new tax credit works, but the cap and the decision making model are disconcerting.
For every dollar spent in Alberta for televison and film, $3.50 are returned to the economy.
"The government has the opportunity to hitch to the hottest wagon on the planet right now and that's content creation."
Damian Petty from IATSE urges the government to take the cap off the new TV and film credit.
"We need to go further. There's about $30 billion of content for on-demand services."
Ontario and BC do not have a cap on the credit and there's unprecedented growth.
That bring us to the end of our news conference with workers from Alberta's screen industry.
There's a huge opportunity for growth. We're hopeful the government will listen and change the current limit for the tax credit and clarify the approval process. #ableg
Read our report o how we can grow Alberta's screen industry. #ableg
The UCP promised us “engagement” on the idea of pulling our retirement security out of CPP to create a smaller standalone Alberta pension plan.
A handpicked member of their “engagement panel” recently sang the praises of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).
#ableg #cdnpoli
🧵 1/X
In a 2018 paper, published by the Fraser Institute, Professor Moin Yahya concludes, “It should be obvious that the CPP enjoys a preferred status among pension plans. This gives it a huge cost advantage in the world of pensions.” 2/X
Professor Yahya argues one of the strengths of CPP is a large and diverse set of contributors and payees. This guards against skewed demographics, like aging populations. Smaller pensions, like the one the UCP proposes, don’t enjoy this advantage. 3/x
Here’s a “fun” fact: Kenney’s $13/hour minimum wage for students includes fines for those who refuse to tell their boss their education status.
$500 for the 1st offense.
$1,000 for the 2nd offense.
$2,000 for the 3rd & subsequent offenses. #ableg#cdnpoli
[thread]
That’s right, in @jkenney's Alberta, it’s OK to pay students $2/hour less than other minimum-wage workers. It’s also OK to fine students starting at $500 for those who refuse to tell their boss their education status so they can be paid less than other workers. #ableg#cdnpoli
Section 9(4) of the Employment Standards Regulation states that a worker “MUST PROVIDE, on the request of the employee’s employer, the information necessary for the employer to determine the minimum wage applicable to the employee..." (emphasis added) #AbLeg#cdnpoli
It is completely unacceptable for any provincial government to ask essential workers to now pay higher child-care fees to ensure they can go to work, so that the rest of us may get through this pandemic. @siobhanvipond#AbLeg#abpoli#canlab
All kids deserve a fair start. Yet, Alberta’s inconsistent, expensive, and incomplete delivery of child care means that many kids are being left behind, an ongoing situation only amplified during this public health emergency. @siobhanvipond#AbLeg#abpoli#canlab
The UCP government needs to step up and provide quality and accessible child care for essential workers now... @siobhanvipond #AbLeg#abpoli#canlab
This is an important document. It shows the @jkenney government made a multi-billion decision on bad data.
The UCP campaigned on the idea corporate tax cut would be “SELF-FINANCING” (our emphasis) because economic spin offs would lead to more government revenue elsewhere to offset the loss of corporate tax funds.
How independent was Janice MacKinnon, the Chair of the Blue Ribbon Panel?
Internal government documents lead AFL to question Janice MacKinnon’s independence from UCP government. #AbLeg#abpoli#cdnpoli afl.org/afl_questions_…
Internal government emails show the @Alberta_UCP government wrote speaking notes and an opinion piece for Janice MacKinnon.
May 6, 2019, 4:32 pm – “Premier’s office would like an op-ed to go out from you as Chair. Can you look at the following draft, which is based on your speaking notes?”
[redacted]
Minister @DevinDVote: question #9 on your survey proposes "exempting small farms from employment standards legislation for waged, non-family workers." (not farm families)
Employment standards regulates minimum wage, among other things.
Please clarify how this is false. #AbLeg