The Canadian Film and Television Production Association called upon its members to get the word out to the public and the government on the important role the independent production industry plays in the Canadian economy and vowed to take a large part in redefining Telefilm Canada and the cbc.

‘The cbc and Telefilm are such an important part of our cultural industry,’ said cftpa president Elizabeth McDonald at the cftpa’s annual general meeting, held April 12 in Toronto. ‘We want to be part of the solution so that we don’t lose the industry’s infrastructure.’

cftpa chairman Tom Berry agrees. ‘It’s an emotionally charged issue,’ he says. ‘There has not been much focus on the independent production community as being a part of the discussions. We want to be a part of the restructuring of Telefilm and cbc.’

Citing the ‘burden of cbc’s overhead’ and independent producers’ ‘excellent track record’ of securing various sources of financing, Berry added: ‘We feel cbc can save a lot of money and increase output if they do more productions with outside companies. We’re very much in favor of an all-Canadian primetime on cbc and we can help them do it for 50% less.’

Berry stressed that another priority of the cftpa is spreading the word to the public and government of the cultural and financial importance of the independent production community, which directly and indirectly has a $2.2 billion impact on Canada’s gnp.

‘In terms of employment,’ said Berry, ‘that’s huge. These jobs we are creating are almost always quite skilled. Government shouldn’t have to think long to realize that jobs we create will result in substantial tax revenue. We are a high-tech new economy sector so we’re not vulnerable to low-wage economic competition.’

McDonald says in 1996 the cftpa will deal with both Industry Minister John Manley and the Department of Canadian Heritage, run by ‘a very dynamic, active and high-profile’ Sheila Copps.

But McDonald encourages producers to pursue new avenues of federal aid in other departments. ‘As it would appear that the Chretien government is preparing to go to the electorate in 1997, there is an opportunity for producers to work with their elected officials in all regions to ensure that the government’s platform responds to the needs of the industry,’ she says.

When the crtc hearings begin May 6, the cftpa will be filing comments on the appropriate framework for the licensing of new specialty, pay and pay-per-view services. Later in the year, the cftpa will be entering negotiations with the Writers’ Guild of Canada, whose union agreement expires Dec. 31. The cftpa will continue to lobby for an Ontario refundable tax credit, which Epitome Pictures’ Linda Schuyler says could go through as early as September 1996.

The cftpa will be a part of discussions around the emerging telephone companies’ benefits package. In the initial convergence hearing, the telcos said they would contribute $50 million to the industry: 60% to programming, 20% to training, and 20% to research and development.

In regional development, the cftpa will continue to strengthen the B.C. Branch Society it opened in 1994. ‘The b.c. branch will continue to solidify its accomplishments, especially in regard to securing revenue from collective agreement check-offs,’ says Berry.

At the agm, seven new members were named to the 20-member cftpa board of directors: Neil Bregman (Sound Venture Productions), Micheline Charest (Cinar), Michael Donovan (Salter Street Films), Michael MacMillan (Atlantis Films), John Robinson (Alliance Communications), Kevin Sullivan (Sullivan Films) and Arnie Zipursky (Cambium Film & Video).

Returning as directors are: Berry, Schuyler, Douglas Barrett (McMillan Binch), Douglas Dales (P.S. Production Services), Kevin DeWalt (Minds Eye Pictures), Stephen Ellis (Ellis Enterprises), Julia Keatley (Keatley Film), Ira Levy (Breakthrough Film and Television), Derek Mazur (Credo Entertainment), Matthew O’Connor (Pacific Motion Pictures), Annabel Slaight (Owl Communications), Richard Davis (Once and Future Films) and Andy Thomson (Great North Productions).