The networks are in a dead heat for last place when it comes to Cancon this fall, according to a tally of the 2009/10 schedules put out by ACTRA. The actors’ union, in it’s all-but traditional response to this week’s unveiling of the fall schedules, puts the A channels in last place, with one hour of Canadian-made shows per week, followed by CTV and Global, tied with two hours each.

‘Despite the so-called financial crises, Canadian broadcasters’ credit cards are working just fine in Hollywood,’ said newly minted ACTRA national president Ferne Downey in a statement, repeating the union’s criticisms of the networks’ spending habits at the L.A. Screenings. The E! network, which is in the process of being sold off by troubled parent Canwest, has not unveiled any fall plans.

ACTRA again called on the CRTC to put minimum spending requirements in place for Canadian programming.

‘This week’s release of the fall TV schedules demonstrates yet again the private networks have no intention of increasing Canadian programming — unless forced to by the CRTC,’ said national executive director Stephen Waddell.

The Commission has raised the possibility of imposing a 1:1 spending ratio, though discussion on this controversial idea was recently put off until next year.

The Writers Guild of Canada took aim at Citytv and its parent, Rogers Communications, in a separate statement, for the five-station group’s simulcast-heavy fall schedule. ‘Now Citytv has joined the choir’ of CTV and Global, said executive director Maureen Parker.