Fed up Canadian actors have panned the fall 2011 prime-time schedules rolled out this week by Citytv, Global Television and CTV.

Calling the private broadcasters “nothing more than simulcasters” of U.S. network shows, ACTRA said it needed a magnifying glass to find homegrown shows on the upcoming fall slates.

“Once again I have to ask why do we even have Canadian conventional broadcasters if all they’re going to show is the same stuff we can see on the U.S. networks?” Ferne Downey, ACTRA national president, said Thursday.

The actors union had hoped recent policy changes from the CRTC, with new spending requirements for homegrown shows, might make the fall schedules of Citytv, CTV and Global Television do more than mirror those of the American networks.

Instead, ACTRA counts zero Canadian dramas on the Global Television schedule for fall 2011, and only one hour each for Citytv, CTV and CTV Two.

The actors union said they told the CRTC the private networks would push homegrown shows to the far wings of their prime-time schedules, a prediction that has come to pass.

“We need a healthy broadcasting system and I just don’t see how our Canadian broadcasters can stay competitive if they’re not willing to distinguish themselves by showcasing the one thing that makes them unique – Canadian programming,” Downey said.