If progressive cultural policy is good business for the tens of thousands of producers, actors, writers, directors and crew who have en masse been contemplating alternative vocations these past few years while production has staggered, then they must all be cheering the results of the June 28 federal election.

The minority mandate handed to Paul Martin’s Liberals has the greatest potential to usher in a golden age for progressive cultural policy in the last quarter century.

On the surface, the new Liberal mandate would appear to represent the status quo in terms of government support for film and TV production, but with the NDP and/or the Bloc Quebecois holding the balance, significant benefits could be wrung. Both parties acknowledge cultural policy as key platform pillars.

It should be noted that Brian Topp, executive director of ACTRA Toronto Performers, took a leave of absence to work as a strategist on the NDP’s election campaign. This should give everyone with a vested interest in revitalizing English-language drama production in this country a reason to grin. ACTRA has been a leading voice in boosting drama and has pointed its finger squarely at the CRTC’s 1999 TV Policy as the culprit in its decline. For its part, the Bloc would likely not oppose attempts to boost drama production providing French-language production continues to get equal measure.

All of this takes on even more significance when you consider that the terms of four CRTC commissioners, including both vice chairs, come up in the next six months. Vice chair Andree Wylie’s tenure ends Aug. 30, while vice chair David Colville’s is up Dec. 31. Meanwhile, commissioners Jean-Marc Demers’ and Barbara Cram’s terms both end Oct. 31. An NDP/Bloc influence could persuade Martin to appoint commissioners who support a culture-first agenda.

A second factor worth noting is that in March, the federal government restored its annual $100-million commitment to the Canadian Television Fund for two more years. That means there is an outside chance that a minority Liberal government will still be in power when the CTF comes up for renewal in early 2006.

The window, then, is open for a payoff after years of intense lobbying by industry groups to get a long-term commitment for the CTF from the feds, if they can get either the NDP or Bloc behind their efforts.

But that window may already be closing.

The Liberals got a stay of execution June 28, but the momentum is with the Conservatives, who are within reach of forming the next government.

By and large, the Canadian film and TV industry was never so united – across region and across language and across corporate structure, including many broadcasters – against what was seen as a hidden Conservative agenda to undermine Canadian cultural sovereignty. Of course there were some broadcasters who rejoiced at the notion of a toothless CRTC and the loosening of foreign-ownership restrictions – as was spelled out in a Conservative candidate handbook – but they were not representative.

If the fears of these industry groups are credible, this could be their last best chance to push for significant reform and long-term support. They may never be in a better position to get it.