Ontario film sector insiders say work is drying up, call on government for aid

Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein. We've been looking at the players. Law and Order. And of course, heated rivalry. These are just some of the major films and TV shows that have filmed in Ontario in recent years. But crews working behind the scenes say some of that work is drying up. We are down in production levels this year for sure. The summer was a bit slow, so we don't have Q3 numbers yet. But in the first six months, our unionized members reported 38% fewer working days. That's about 250,000 days total. Film Ontario, a non-profit representing studios, producers and creative guilds across the province, says many productions are looking at other cities and regions that offer stronger incentives. And that's having a major impact on workers in the sector and beyond. We have a lot of talented people in Ontario, both who work on the domestic productions, But also, you know, we have Oscar-winning cast and crew here in Ontario. So there is the direct job loss for those individuals. But then there's also the spinoff effects. So those productions aren't here to use local caterers, to buy costumes in local stores, to, you know, if we're bringing people in, they're not staying in local hotels. That's why Film Ontario and IATSE Local 667, 667, the Union for Ontario's Camera Operators and Cinematographers, recently called on the province to come to their aid ahead of the November fall economic statement. The groups are calling for increased tax credits to attract and retain productions and an additional $26 million investment into the Ontario Creates IP Fund, the province's primary tool for directly financing homegrown productions. It is a vastly oversubscribed fund, which means that every competitive fund has its good and bad projects, But definitely with the oversubscription to this fund, there are good projects that are being left on the table because we're seeing them being picked up by other provinces or going somewhere else. In a statement sent to CBC Toronto, a Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming spokesperson highlights that the province is providing nearly $1 billion in film and television tax credits this fiscal year. The ministry also pointed to ongoing economic uncertainty, particularly in light of U.S. tariffs, but said Ontario's film industry remains a global leader. The statement did not address the call for more investment into the Ontario Creates IP Fund. Tyler Chees, CBC News, Toronto.