A group of Nova Scotia producers including the Nova Scotia Producers Association has been actively lobbying the Ministries of Economic Development and Finance to increase the province’s film and television tax credit to 40% from 30% in Halifax and 45% in areas outside the province’s capital.

‘It’s now in the hands of the various ministers,’ says Bill Skerrett, president of the nspa and Skerrett Communications. ‘The legislation on the tax credit is such that no new legislation would be required. Cabinet could just change the percentages.’

The lobbying effort is partly in response to New Brunswick’s attractive 40% credit which has helped kickstart that province’s film industry.

Skerrett says the increase would ensure that the province’s economic growth from the film industry would continue and adds that accountants and various experts have drawn active analysis on the benefits of upping the credit.

Anne-Marie Varner, ceo of the nsfdc, comments that ‘from the perspective of the film development corporation, it obviously would be in our best interest to be as competitive as possible.’

The producers lobby group has asked for a decision from the government by March 31.