Canadian Screenwriters Vote ‘YES’ to Contract Extension with Canadian Producers
July 22, 2008—New York, NY Sindy GordonToronto – July 21, 2008 – Canadian screenwriters voted overwhelmingly in favour of a 12-month extension to their collective agreement with the Canadian Film & Television Producers Association (CFTPA) and the Association des Producteurs de Film et Télévision du Québec (APFTQ). The Writers Guild of Canada’s Independent Production Agreement (IPA), which governs screenwriting in Canada, expires on December 31, 2008. The ratification extends the agreement through to December 31, 2009, and includes an increase in compensation effective January 1, 2009.
Terms of the extension include a 3% increase to the minimum script fee, paid to a writer on delivery of the script, and a 3% increase to the minimum fee paid to the screenwriter when the script goes into production.
All parties to the deal – the WGC, CFTPA and APFTQ – are pleased with the extension. The three industry groups worked out the deal in recognition that the next 18 months will reshape the regulatory landscape in which members of all three associations work. The next year will see all groups involved in CRTC hearings on New Media broadcasting and conventional broadcaster licence renewals, terms of trade negotiations and more.
Maureen Parker, Executive Director, WGC, said that “this is a good deal for Canadian screenwriters. The production fee increase translates to real gains for working screenwriters. But overall, it’s a win/win agreement because it means there will be stability in the creative community at a time when it is under siege by the cable companies and broadcasters. As the CRTC looks at renewing broadcasting licences, at new initiatives for Canadian New Media production, and at the responsibilities of the cable and satellite companies to the Canadian broadcasting system in which they thrive, the creative community can focus on the work ahead to ensure that Canadians can access high-quality, scripted Canadian programming.”
John Barrack, National Executive Vice President and Counsel, CFTPA, said that “all parties recognize that the collective bargaining process is time consuming and costly and it was easy to agree that we would be far better to devote these resources to our common cause of improving the production landscape in Canada. The CFTPA appreciates the WGC’s support for our Terms of Trade initiative with Canada’s broadcasters and we furthermore look forward to working in unity and advocating with the guild in order to achieve our common objectives before the CRTC and elsewhere.”
Julie Patry, Director of Industrial Relations, APFTQ, said that “the decision to extend the agreement with increases reflects the good relations and good faith between the Canadian and Quebec production community and the screenwriters. We understand that we share a common purpose – to tell compelling Canadian stories, and to see those stories on our television, movie and computer screens.”
More Information: http://www.wgc.ca