ACTRA Toronto is giving Rick Mercer its 2012 Award of Excellence.

The Rick Mercer Report host will receive the tribute at the 10th edition of the ACTRA Awards in Toronto for his TV work and advocacy on behalf of the actors union.

“Rick, of course, doesn’t need any encouragement to take an interest in politics,” ACTRA Toronto president Heather Allin said Monday in a statement.

“But, at ACTRA Toronto, we think all Canadians should be grateful that he does,” she added, recalling Mercer in 2003 warning Canadians would be left watching only American TV shows if Canada gave up on its broadcast system.

“We are surrendering the most powerful medium we have. If we don’t change course right now, Canadians will be listening to and watching Americans 24 hours a day, seven days a week on every channel they can click to,” Mercer was quoted by ACTRA as saying at the time.

The 2012 ACTRA Awards will also include three juried awards to be handed out on February 25, 2012, at The Carlu in Toronto.