Having served on the cftpa’s finance and tax committee for a number of years, Stephen Ord is now in his second year as the committee’s cochair, a responsibility he shares with the Royal Bank’s Robert Maurice. Traditionally, the primary task of the committee has been to consult with the federal government about its tax incentive programs and any other financial changes applicable to the world of Canadian film and television.

‘The committee was set up years ago during the cca [Capital Cost Allowance] days when you had accelerated Capital Cost Allowance,’ explains Ord. ‘The committee has been the voice of the industry as the film and television business moved from a cca-driven finance approach to the refundable investment tax-credit approach.’

According to Ord, the finance and tax committee’s agenda has grown in the past few years, with a good portion of its efforts now devoted to smoothing the wrinkles in the tax-credit system with the federal departments of Heritage and Finance.

‘The main issue the committee is currently dealing with is to simplify the design and administration of the federal tax-credit program for the purposes of improving the efficiency of the policy, both for the producers who access the funds and the government which distributes them,’ says Ord. ‘Over the last year we have put in place a number of proposals [and] we are working with the government to reduce the complexity of the whole program. We are optimistic we will find a more efficient tax-credit system.’

Ord says the current credit-filing system is far too complex, while delays in processing the claims often result in unanticipated and unbudgeted interim financing problems for producers.

Another issue being explored by the committee is the taxation of non-Canadian performers and behind-the-camera personnel. The committee is working with government and has been actively involved in talks with Revenue Canada to find a solution.

Ord, who works by day as the mild-mannered executive vp of television production at Alliance Atlantis, says about 10% to 15% of his week is devoted to his duties with the cftpa. He continues to be impressed with the participation and dedication of his peers on the various committees.

‘When you go through all of the committees, most of the people who speak with the government are producers themselves, or work with a production company, which is a good thing,’ says Ord. ‘Governments appreciate it too, because when they are talking to one of the committees of the cftpa directly, they know there is a diverse group on that committee.’