What’s the story?

The government of British Columbia seems determined to continue confusing local producers. Is it, or is it not, in favor of creating an indigenous b.c. production industry?

As we report in B.C. Scene (see p. 10), the lack of a tax incentive program may have contributed to one producer’s decision to leave b.c. for Quebec – where, of course, tax incentives do exist – but the fact remains that the government has what can only be termed a politically incorrect record of stalling on this issue.

In 1989, the provincial film industry began to work with the then Socred government to come up with tax incentive recommendations. The culture minister of the day indicated she would not ‘compete’ with other provinces. Nothing happened.

Eighteen months of uncertainty and inaction passed until, in the fall of 1991, Mike Harcourt’s ndp took office and gave Darlene Marzari the Tourism and Culture portfolio. She launched several months of consultation with all and sundry, complete with meetings and commissioned studies. A year later, a report on the industry emerged. Marzari sent it back for more work. Nothing happened.

Fast-forward to mid-September 1993 when, in a cabinet shuffle, Bob Barlee moves to the Culture Ministry. More consultation, this time in a period of fiscal restraint. The government’s focus had shifted away from seeking a solution similar to the Ontario government’s Ontario Film Investment Program. Budgets come, budgets go, the tax incentive program still a fond wish.

This summer, Michael Francis, chairman of British Columbia Film and board member of the B.C. Trade Corporation, announced the film industry would be cut off from access to the Export Loan Guarantee Program. While he added that a plan for bcfip – a program reminiscent of ofip – would get another government assessment next month, and may receive funding, there will be no yay or nay before fall.

As the government considers the merits of bcfip, it should not be distracted by the fact that 30-odd film and tv productions are jostling for locations and crews alike. Most of these only involve Canadians in a service capacity, a buoyant industry now but one that could be gone tomorrow – location burnout is becoming an issue, who knows what the dollar will do – and where would that leave all the services and suppliers built in b.c. to support it?

The politicians must remember that the indigenous industry needs a marketplace incentive, an incentive for private investment, to boost it onto stronger feet. Otherwise, many b.c. producers will continue to hold down day jobs servicing American shoots rather than forging ahead on either all-Canadian or coproduction projects. And another thing: those day jobs – and the virtual absence of the provincial producers’ association – take time away from a concerted lobbying effort to get that tax incentive program.

It is time the b.c. government mended its broken record and changed its tune.