With a federal budget expected to come down sometime this month, stakeholders from across the industry are asking Finance Minister Ralph Goodale to restore Ottawa’s support of the Canadian Television Fund in a Feb. 5 open letter.

ACTRA, the CBC, CFTPA, APFTQ and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters are among the unions, distributors and other groups that, under the banner of the CTF Renewal Coalition, are calling on the Liberals to put their usual $100 million into the fund for 2004. The feds set off production pandemonium last year when they cut their CTF contribution to $75 million and later borrowed $12.5 million from the 2004 budget.

‘Despite our differences on other issues, the industry has united to support this crucial keystone that fulfills many of the government’s cultural and economic objectives,’ reads the two-page letter.

The letter also asks Goodale to boost the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, which currently covers 25% of eligible salaries or 12% of production.

APFTQ, the Quebec producers association, also rallied groups in that province and sent in a second letter, blaming last year’s cuts for Canada-wide job losses and an $88-million drop in production.

Paul Martin pledged to fully restore the CTF during his run for the Prime Minister’s Office, and gave a nod to Canada’s cultural industries in his recent Speech from the Throne.

Both letters were also copied to the new heritage minister, Helene Scherrer.

-www.cftpa.ca