Lauren Boothby
EDMONTON JOURNAL
Local industry groups are welcoming Alberta’s expanded film and television tax credit program, saying the $70 million allotted in this year’s budget will help support the growing sector and attract big productions
Local industry groups are welcoming Alberta’s expanded film and television tax credit program, saying the $70 million allotted in this year’s budget will help support the growing sector and attract big productions
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© Provided by Edmonton Journal HBO's The Last of Us being shot in Edmonton last October.
Investment now and into the next few years is part of Alberta’s plans to diversify the economy and help it recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Productions already approved for this year are expected to create up to 12,500 jobs, according to the government.
Tom Viinikka, CEO of Edmonton Screen Industries Office , said it’s an exciting time for the local television and film industries and this credit will provide the room it needs to grow.
“This tax credit makes us competitive with other regions and makes it possible for these productions, especially these really big productions, to come to Alberta,” he said.
“(These) come with potentially hundreds of millions of dollars for a single production, and it provides a ton of jobs and opportunities for people to develop their craft and their talent.”
With big productions like The Last of Us, Viinikka said 2021 was Alberta’s best year, bringing in more money than ever before. He hopes more productions see what the province has to offer, like the variety of seasons and locations — from the prairies to Edmonton’s river valley and big cities.
“We’re a really film-friendly region. It’s inexpensive to shoot, it’s easy to film here with great crew and great assets and infrastructure,” he said.
Advocacy group Keep Alberta Rolling, responding to the budget on social media, also said it will help grow the industry and benefit the province.
“The future is bright,” the group said on Twitter. “This represents increased jobs and investment in the sector and more opportunities to showcase our beautiful province.”
Investment now and into the next few years is part of Alberta’s plans to diversify the economy and help it recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Productions already approved for this year are expected to create up to 12,500 jobs, according to the government.
Tom Viinikka, CEO of Edmonton Screen Industries Office , said it’s an exciting time for the local television and film industries and this credit will provide the room it needs to grow.
“This tax credit makes us competitive with other regions and makes it possible for these productions, especially these really big productions, to come to Alberta,” he said.
“(These) come with potentially hundreds of millions of dollars for a single production, and it provides a ton of jobs and opportunities for people to develop their craft and their talent.”
With big productions like The Last of Us, Viinikka said 2021 was Alberta’s best year, bringing in more money than ever before. He hopes more productions see what the province has to offer, like the variety of seasons and locations — from the prairies to Edmonton’s river valley and big cities.
“We’re a really film-friendly region. It’s inexpensive to shoot, it’s easy to film here with great crew and great assets and infrastructure,” he said.
Advocacy group Keep Alberta Rolling, responding to the budget on social media, also said it will help grow the industry and benefit the province.
“The future is bright,” the group said on Twitter. “This represents increased jobs and investment in the sector and more opportunities to showcase our beautiful province.”
Viinikka hopes the government brings in tax credits for the video game industry as well. Alberta is competitive and has a lot of talent to offer, he said.
“We’re working with the government and trying to … demonstrate the opportunity that’s there,” he said. “We have some of the most well-known video game development companies in the world in Edmonton, and we have a really great foundation to build on.”
More job opportunities
Speaking to reporters last Thursday, Finance Minister Travis Toews said drawing investment from this industry and other sectors will bring more stable revenue and provide different types of employment.
“We’re focused on ensuring that Albertans have more job opportunities, perhaps more career opportunities and occupations that maybe didn’t exist five years ago, as we take a look at the tech sector, maybe even the film and television sector in this province,” he said.
According to the business plan for the ministry of jobs, economy and innovation, every $1 the province invested in tax credits for the industry brought in $4 of investment last year. Alberta hopes for the next three years to see more value for each dollar spent to $4.20.
lboothby@postmedia.com
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