Stephen LaRose is working on a story for the May 17 edition of prairie dog on the fallout that continues to rain down on the Sask. Party government for its initial decision to kill the Film Employment Tax Credit, and its ill-advised effort at damage control a few weeks later with the offer of non-refundable tax credit that was universally panned as being of zero value to Saskatchewan film and TV producers.
Today, a rally was held at the Canada-Saskatchewan Sound Stage (College & Broad) to try to convince the government to see the error of its ways and reinistate the tax credit. The rally came a few days after a poll was released showing that 60 per cent of Saskatchewan residents opposed killing the FETC, while only 25 per cent supported the decision. In two related questions, 75 per cent of respondents said they regarded the film and TV industry as being important to Saskatchewan, and a similar number said they supported the implementation of a new incentive program that was similar in scope to the old FETC.
Regina filmmaker Lowell Dean was at the rally. After assembling at the Sound Stage, participants moved on to the Legislature where the above photo was taken. After the jump, you’ll find another photo of the rally, along with a third shot showing freelance make-up artist and hair stylist Tracy George with a petition with 8,000 signatures that were gathered by volunteers over the last few weeks to protest the government action. Looking on is Saskatchewan-born actor Kim Coates, star of the hit American TV show Sons of Anarchy, who made a special trip back to Saskatchewan from L.A. to show his support.
