New Strategy To Guide Growth

Nova Scotia's film, television and new media industry has a new plan it says will help bring new projects to the province while encouraging even more growth in the existing industry.

The work of an industry-driven task force, The Nova Scotia Film, Television and New Media Industry: Impact Analysis and Long-Term Strategy, says a mix of business development initiatives, increased marketing and continued government support will help the industry secure its future.

"The film industry makes important contributions to Nova Scotia's social, cultural and economic landscape," Economic Development Minister Ernest Fage said in unveiling the strategy today, Nov. 3. "This new and comprehensive analysis of an important industry will be a key tool in keeping the industry competitive and beneficial for Nova Scotians."

The strategy makes a series of key recommendations for the industry:

• focus on business and skills development;
• carve out a position in the international marketplace for both local and offshore film and television productions;
• keep presenting Nova Scotia as a great offshore location shoot;
• ensure continued government support, because the industry is at a crucial stage in its development.

"By providing support for the development of this strategy, the government of Canada is helping to create opportunities within the film sector as well as promoting further investment in this region," said Fisheries and Oceans Minister Geoff Regan, on behalf of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, a funding partner in the film strategy project.

"As the task force discusses next steps to implement the strategy, we move forward on the basis of this detailed analysis of our investment programs for the industry," said Ann MacKenzie, CEO of the Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation. "In the impact analysis, program users gave high marks to the provincial equity investment, development and marketing initiatives, and they identified the province's film industry tax credit as key to continued growth in the film and television industry."

Ms. MacKenzie said the economic-impact assessment showed that the cost of the tax-credit program is offset by resulting personal tax revenues and spinoffs.

The province's film industry employs about 2,000 Nova Scotians and has generated more than $100 million of production activity in each of the last six years.

The film industry stakeholders' task force included producers, broadcasters, labour groups, education and training organizations, funding agencies and government departments.

"This is a progressive plan," said Steve Comeau, chair of the task force and a local producer. "Excitement is building around the potential the industry can tap into with the strategy's support."

In the coming weeks, the task force will begin the process of prioritizing and implementing some of the recommendations. "That process will involve marshalling the resources of organizations and individuals whose livelihoods depend on the film industry," said Mr. Comeau. "We are confident these groups will bring to the table a deep ability and passionate interest and we look forward to great results for our industry."

The Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation, Nova Scotia Economic Development and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency funded the film industry strategy.

The Nova Scotia Film, Television and New Media Industry: Impact Analysis and Long-Term Strategy can be found on the website at www.film.ns.ca/pdfs/integrated_report.pdf .