Vancouver: A newly released survey from Coopers & Lybrand says b.c. could lose $275 million in direct spending, $110 million in wages and 5,300 jobs if it doesn’t introduce a competitive tax credit for foreign producers.

According to the survey, 65% of foreign-owned film and tv producers now working in b.c. would be ‘very likely’ to relocate shows to take advantage of production services tax credits elsewhere.

The survey results, says Rick Griffiths, c&l’s director of media and entertainment, demonstrate the ‘extreme mobility and acute cost sensitivity – especially of television productions.’

An implementation date for a b.c. foreign tax credit has yet to be announced, although it appears it will not be ready on April 1, when the credit for indigenous producers comes into effect. Last-minute debates about an alternative – a sales tax waiver – have put the process behind schedule.