Saskatchewan has made changes to its tax credits that could cut labor costs by more than half. Starting Jan. 1, a base tax credit of 45%, up from 35%, will apply to eligible above- and below-the-line labor for both Canadian and foreign shoots. A 5% cut for rural shoots and a new 5% ‘key position’ bonus are also available.

The changes were unveiled Nov. 3 by the provincial New Democrats and, at the American Film Market in California, by SaskFilm.

‘The original tax credit program has met its original objective, which was to build the production industry and develop the crews,’ says Valerie Creighton, CEO and film commissioner of SaskFilm, adding that the province is looking to ‘build on that strength and continue the momentum.’

The changes come almost a year after a wave of improved breaks swept Ontario, B.C., Manitoba and Nova Scotia. The province was partway through a reassessment of its credits at the time, says Creighton. ‘Because the other announcements happened, they went back in and did some further analysis based on the impact of those announcements.’

The new ‘key position’ bonus applies to shoots that hire specific Saskatchewan crew for certain above- and below-the-line positions. The rural bonus is open to projects that shoot 40 kilometers (25 miles) or more from Regina and Saskatoon.

Saskatchewan has recently hosted Terry Gilliam’s Tideland, the features Just Friends and The Messengers and is home to CTV’s Corner Gas.

With files from Dustin Dinoff

www.saskfilm.com