Actors took aim at the CRTC’s recommendations for the Canadian Television Fund on Tuesday, warning that the proposed changes to the embattled fund could lead to fewer key jobs for Canadians.

The CRTC’s recommendations, released on Friday, include lowering the minimum CAVCO requirement for eligible primetime content to 8 out of 10 points, down from 10 out of 10.

According to ACTRA national president Richard Hardacre, this ‘would permit CTF-funded productions to be made without a Canadian in the key roles of a director, or a writer, or a lead performer.’ Under the current regulations, all three must be Canadian.

A statement released Tuesday by the actors’ union also criticizes proposed changes to the CTF board and says the CRTC’s 30-page report does too little to improve the standing of English-language drama. CTF stakeholders are expected to file responses to the CRTC, which will issue a final report sometime in August.

In other ACTRA news, the union has ratified a one-year extension of its National Commercial Agreement by a nearly unanimous vote.

The NCA covers the terms and conditions of work of professional performers in all television, radio and new media commercials made in Canada. The terms of the extension include a 3% general increase to all rates, plus an additional one-point increase to insurance contributions. The new rates, terms and conditions became effective on July 1.

‘We’re happy that our membership is behind this extension, it’s a strong signal of our members’ support for the negotiating committee and the solidarity within our union,’ said Hardacre in a statement released on Tuesday.

The agreement was negotiated by ACTRA, the Institute of Communications and Advertising, and the Association of Canadian Advertisers, all three of which have signed off on the deal.