The federal government’s 2024 Fall Economic Statement fell short of providing additional support to Canada’s screen sector, despite widespread calls from industry stakeholders.

The fall fiscal update was tabled in the House of Commons on Monday (Dec. 16), hours after University-Rosedale MP Chrystia Freeland publicly resigned from her roles as Deputy Minister and Minister of Finance.

The update revealed a $61.9 billion deficit for Canada in fiscal 2023-24, which the government projects will decrease to $42.8 billion for 2024-25.

The screen sector received more than $120 million in additional funding in the 2024 budget, but many of those funds will dry up in fiscal 2025-26. That includes the $40 million investment to the Canada Media Fund (CMF) to support equity-deserving groups. The two-year $100-million top-up for Telefilm Canada, announced ahead of the budget, will also expire in 2025-26.

In November, nearly 1,400 film and TV stakeholders signed an open letter to Freeland, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge calling for the government to make Telefilm’s increased funding permanent. Several other groups implored the government to up its support for CMF, including doubling its stabilization funds, increasing support for French-language content and making the funds for equity-deserving groups permanent.

Hélène Messier, president and CEO of L’Association québécoise de la production médiatique, issued a statement following the release of the Fall Economic Statement, arguing it was a missed opportunity for the government to fulfill its past campaign promise to permanently increase Telefilm’s annual budget by $50 million, She added that the lack of stable funding means uncertainty for the industry beyond 2025-26.

Messier also warned that time is running out for the government to fulfill its promises, alluding to the fact that there will be a federal election in 2025 – either on the mandatory date of Oct. 20, 2025, or an earlier snap election in the event of a non-confidence vote. She called on Minister St-Onge to announce permanent funding for Telefilm and additional support for the CMF before the next federal budget in spring.

Canadian Heritage was also expected to table a new mandate for CBC/Radio-Canada before Parliament adjourns for the calendar year. The House of Commons is scheduled to adjourn Tuesday (Dec. 17) and reconvene on Jan. 27, 2025.

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