A coalition of eight Canadian unions and guilds protecting workers in the film and television industries are calling for Telefilm Canada to exclusively fund projects that give workers sufficient rights to ensure that entertainment workers procure employment security.
On Nov. 12, the Canadian film and television coalition — which includes the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Association des Réalisateurs et Réalisatrices du Québec, Directors Guild of Canada, Ontario Film, Television and New Media Technicians, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Société des Auteurs de Radio, Télévision et Cinema, Union des Artistes and the Writers Guild of Canada — signed a letter calling out Telefilm Canada’s new Production Program Guidelines which permit funding projects with “lax investment policies” that do not provide workers with proper protections.
The letter outlines the coalition’s request for Telefilm Canada to only give funding to projects that provide their workers with collective agreements and stay faithful to those agreements.
The letter emphasizes that, even in high budget productions, workers are being left to their own devices regarding their employment security.
The coalition believes that Telefilm’s power in the entertainment world can be used to standardize collective agreements and fair working conditions in film and television work environments.
They cited Canada Media Fund (CMF) as an example of a similar group that reflects the values of the Canadian film and television coalition, refuting Telefilm’s claims that it would be difficult to impose the regulations the coalition is asking for.
The letter also analyzes Telefilm’s current policies and deduces that the group has “the tools and the mandate” to employ the protections the coalition is calling for.
For example, Telefilm’s policy outlines that there are penalties for producers who do not uphold contractual obligations to their agency, yet they do not have any regulations outlining penalties for situations in which these producers cannot meet the obligations they have for their crews.
Many members of the coalition shared their concern surrounding Telefilm’s lack of protections for workers amidst rising costs of living in Canada.
Lauren Dubois — the General Director of Société des Auteurs de Radio, Télévision et Cinema — said that it is “beyond urgent” for Telefilm to use public funds responsibly and compared entertainment funding to other Canadian industries with public funding.
“Could we imagine Canada investing funds in public works projects where tradespeople would be paid below the negotiated minimums?” said Dubois.
The letter also criticizes Telefilm’s use of “taxpayer dollars” to fund productions that do not respect employees.
The letter ends with a call for Telefilm to alter their Production Program Guidelines in advance of their Annual Public Assembly taking place on Nov. 28. The coalition’s goal is to have Telefilm’s guidelines revised so that projects funded throughout 2025 and 2026 will employ either collective or individual agreements, bringing minimum labour standards to entertainment employees.
Despite concerns, John Lewis, the International Vice President and Director of Canadian Affairs for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, says that Telefilm seems “to be taking this responsibility seriously.” The coalition says that they aim for Telefilm to act with haste so the employees on entertainment productions funded by the group will have increased protections as soon as possible.