The Quebec government is stepping in to help end an argument between rival technicians unions that has scared away a number of big-budget American shoots.

On Thursday, Quebec Culture Minister Line Beauchamp appointed a government working group to sit down with rivals IATSE and AQTIS to ‘work out a short-term solution’ to their disagreement.

‘The mandate of this working group is to put in place measures that will reestablish a climate in Montreal that’s welcoming for foreign productions,’ said Beauchamp in a statement. The government mediator appointed to settle the issue, Gilles Charland, will contact American producers to reassure them that the labor dispute will be resolved soon, said Beauchamp.

AQTIS, which represents around 2,900 artists and technicians in Quebec, has long represented workers on foreign service productions, and argues it has the exclusive right to do so under Quebec law. Elsewhere in Canada, producers can choose which union they deal with.

IATSE, which operates in every other province in the country, has long looked to set up shop in Quebec, and last year it opened a local in Montreal, leading to a series of legal challenges from AQTIS.

The conflict has roadblocked Hollywood business from Montreal.

Shortly before Beauchamp’s announcement, AQTIS released a statement pleading with the government for help in hammering out a solution with IATSE.

‘We are really happy. It’s really going to help. This dispute is keeping everyone away, and it’s because we can’t find a way to work with another union on our own. Hopefully the government can help us find another route,’ said AQTIS spokeswoman Brunhilde Pradier in an interview with Playback Daily.

This week, it was reported that big-budget American flicks The Mummy 3 and the US$50-million action flick Death Race 3000 will bypass the city because of the local labor problems. It was also reported that Elegy, starring Ben Kingsley and Penelope Cruz, is now going to shoot in either Winnipeg, Vancouver or Portland, OR., instead of Montreal.

Charland will make his recommendations after sitting down with the two parties over the next few weeks.