Vancouver: British Columbia’s new Liberal government was sworn in June 5 and began the biggest ministerial overhaul in provincial history.

Including Premier Gordon Campbell, there are 28 new cabinet ministers. Campbell was elected May 16 with 77 of 79 seats

While the ministerial changes affect the regulation of industries across the board, the film industry in particular has been shuffled.

The British Columbia Film Commission, funding agency British Columbia Film and, through the BC Pavilion Corporation, the government-run Bridge Studios, now fall under the new Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise, one of the portfolios designed to fuel economic growth.

Rick Thorpe, the MLA for Okanagan Westside and a winery owner, heads the new ministry, which also has responsibility for eliminating all taxpayer-funded subsidies to business.

Previously, the domestic film industry was split between the Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture and the Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security, two of the many old ministries to be axed.

Within Thorpe’s new ministry, meanwhile, is Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Kevin Falcon, minister of state for deregulation.

Industry observers see no cause for alarm that the film industry falls within a ministry dedicated to subsidy cuts and deregulation.

‘They know the difference between investment and subsidy,’ says Susan Croome, GM of Bridge Studios, noting that incentives offered to producers working in B.C. pay back handsomely with tax revenue. ‘I am delighted that we are all in the same ministry and that the various arms of government dealing with the film industry can work together for continued growth and success.’

Tom Adair, executive director of the BC Council of Film Unions, says film is now in a more senior ministry that is focused on industrial strategy. He agrees the new government sees the value of funding agency B.C. Film as a skills and industry developer with long-term yield. And he expects the industry to step up to buy the profitable Bridge Studios should it face deregulation.

‘They [the Liberals] said they want to make the industry better,’ says Adair, referring to pre-election rhetoric. ‘That’s what we expect.’ *