On Monday, it was the Writers Guild of Canada. On Tuesday, it was the turn of Quebec producers to throw their backing behind the CFTPA as English-language indie producers gird for battle with domestic broadcasters over programming rights.

The venue for the expected battle royale between the producers and representatives for CTV, Canwest and other domestic broadcasters will be so-called ‘terms-of-trade’ negotiations that get underway on Wednesday.

‘Canadian independent producers are united in their determination to negotiate terms-of-trade agreements that will ensure a sustainable independent production sector in this country,’ said Claire Samson, president and CEO of the APFTQ, representing Quebec producers, on Tuesday.

Another last-minute addition to the CFTPA bargaining team is Gordon Ritchie, who negotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement for Canada. Ritchie, currently chairman of public affairs at Hill & Knowlton Canada, will help the producers establish favorable terms with the broadcasters on how to value program rights, including new media product.

The CFTPA aims to redress what it sees as a serious imbalance in bargaining power for digital rights with the broadcasters.

In particular, the producers are eager to limit or end requests by broadcasters for multi-platform exhibition rights for programming, which undermines the ability of program creators to hammer out separate licensing agreements for each broadcast window, where the license fee is determined by the value of an individual exhibition window.

The Canadian Association of Broadcasters, which represents major broadcasters, had no comment on the terms-of-trade talks as they begin.

The WGC on Monday said its members have agreed to extend their labor deal with Canadian producers for another year so that the dust can settle on the terms-of-trade agreement once negotiated and other upcoming events, including CRTC license renewal hearings for CTV and Global Television.